This is a question I get often asked by my relocation coaching clients. And my answer is ‘anytime really’. But if you have a choice I recommend starting your new chapter abroad in Spring.
Moving in Spring allows you to use the winter months to prepare, to introspect, to go listen deep, to close one chapter mindfully, to pack up and then start your new experience along with sunnier and longer days, with the awakening of nature and with lots of exciting activities lined up.
Relocating in Autumn can be dampening, the short days can affect your mental health especially when in a new place without a network of family or friends, so if you do move towards end of Summer make sure to pay extra care of your mental health through lots of outdoor activities and exposure to the sun.
Most of our international moves were in fact in Spring:
On our first big intercontinental move to Western Australia in our mid-twenties we chose to leave London in wet October to dive right into the Australian Summer.
When we moved to South Tyrol it was Spring again, just in time for the apple trees to bloom and people coming out of hibernation mode.
Our move to Southern Spain happened again in Spring, a whole long beach summer ahead of us.
After our Spanish chapter we took the Easter break to relocate to Northern Ireland just when the days were getting longer and people at their happiest. By the time the long and wet winter days arrived we had already established an outdoor routine and a good wee network.
Our next move to Zurich was again in early summer just in time to enjoy floating in pristine rivers and hiking the impressive Alps.
Covid hit and after closing the snowboard season we moved to the Canton of Ticino. The move into a tiny stone village in the mountains to try out a different lifestyle and to get our kids to learn Italian was planned just when temperatures were on the rise and the lakes welcomed us to explore from day one.
So, unless you are moving into a tropical climate where it’s summer all year round, start paying attention. Your mental health will thank you for that.
Your relocation coach 🤸♀️
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As an expat living in Athens, finding reliable medical services that meet your specific needs can be a challenge. At Genelabs, we are here to