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Are you dreaming about moving abroad but wondering what it really means to move to a different country? Is it worth it?
When I first decided to move abroad, I thought I had it all figured out. Packing my bags, booking a flight, and starting fresh in a new country seemed straightforward. I knew it would be hard to leave family and friends behind, but what I didn’t expect was the rollercoaster I experienced during those first months. Is moving abroad hard? Absolutely. But the truth is, it’s also one of the most transformative experiences you can go through.
Once you move, you’re not just handling a different climate or learning to navigate a foreign system. You also have to face your fears and uncertainties head-on. But it is totally worth it, and it will completely reshape your mindset, your goals, and how you view life.
So, does moving abroad change you? Yes, In more ways than you can imagine.
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The Challenges of Moving Abroad
In this chapter, I’m not going to talk about the visa process or the financial aspects of moving abroad—you can check out this blog post for that. Once you decide you’re moving, you’ll go through those difficult steps no matter what. And afterward, you’ll probably feel like that was the easy part.
What I’m going to focus on are the mental struggles you’ll face once you start packing your things and reality hits: your life is about to change.
We all know our comfort zone and why it’s so easy to stay there, even when the situation you’re in isn’t doing you any good. And how we tend to self-sabotage when we’re about to step outside that comfort zone and chase after what we dream of. It’s no different when you decide to move abroad.
A little Story Time
When I decided to move from Austria to Panama, there was an opportunity to get a Friendly Nations visa, which was very easy to obtain. But the situation changed quickly, and it was announced that the Friendly Nations visa would soon become much harder to get.
So, I decided to act fast and get my visa before the changes took effect. No matter the difficulties I faced in gathering my paperwork on time, I was determined to get everything right because it was very time-sensitive. I was down to the last two days before the changes, so any mistake would have meant spending money for nothing.
Even though the whole process was incredibly stressful, I was very determined and excited. I didn’t doubt my decision once. And in the end, I did it—I got my visa!
But those feelings of excitement and determination faded quickly once I started packing up my things. I panicked. The feeling was so overwhelming that I didn’t want to leave my country. Even though I had never truly felt at home in Austria, suddenly, I started seeing it in a different light, and my move began to feel unnecessary. I wanted to self-sabotage.
Your Journey Abroad with Self-Sabotage
I know that this doesn’t happen to everyone and that everyone handles things differently, but I want to make you aware of what you might experience during your move, as it will certainly affect how you settle into your new country.
The best way to handle self sabotage is to prepare yourself for what’s to come, especially if you’re moving abroad on your own. I cover a chapter on how to prepare later on in this blog post.
My experience wasn’t that great. I got overwhelmed and felt paralyzed. I wasn’t able to pack everything on time, I left things messy, and I didn’t enjoy my goodbye parties. I didn’t even want to go to most of them because I didn’t want to say goodbye to my loved ones.
Feeling Lost in Your New Country
The expectations you have of your new country might appear completely different once you’re there. My emphasis is on “might appear.”
As I told you before, I was self-sabotaging hard once I started packing. And even though I went through with my move, I still struggled during the first few months in Panama because I was still sabotaging myself. So, it’s important to know the difference:
Are your expectations of your new country really that far off, or are you sabotaging yourself and your experience?
I focused on every little detail in my new home that I didn’t like and blocked out the good things. As an introvert, I feel safe when I’m at home, and during those first few months, it was so hard for me to leave the house to go shopping or take care of the things I needed to do. Getting to know new people was almost impossible.
After a few months, though, I started going out and meeting people more. And what I discovered wasn’t just that there are so many amazing women following their dreams of moving abroad, but that many of them went through what I did—staying isolated because of the difficulties they faced.
This is why I would recommend that you start making connections with people and groups or look for activities to sign up for before your move. This will make it much easier to get out of your shell and actually start enjoying your new home.
Life at home goes on without you
Another difficult part you have to overcome once you move to your new country is the realization that life at home goes on without you. This means you’re going to miss big events in the lives of your loved ones.
You will miss family gatherings, friends’ birthday parties, weddings, and sadly, even funerals. While this can take a toll on you, especially in those first months, you’ll soon realize that thanks to the internet and all the possibilities we have now, you don’t lose touch with the people you love. I’ve been part of family gatherings, wished friends happy birthday, and was there when a friend welcomed her new baby—all through video calls.
In fact, I talk to my mum on video more now than I did when I lived just two hours away from her.
Plus, you’ll meet so many new people that, one day, you’ll call friends or even family. Friendships in your new country can feel even more intense because they often become like family. Be open to these new types of connections.
How Living Abroad Changes You
Now that we’ve gone through the challenges, let’s talk more about the changes you’re going to experience when you decide to make your big move.
Increased Resilience
Living abroad pushes you in ways you never expected. You’re constantly faced with new challenges that make you adapt and grow, whether you like it or not. And while it might feel overwhelming at first, each challenge you face builds a level of resilience you wouldn’t have developed otherwise.
When I first arrived in Panama, I remember, nothing went as smoothly as I hoped. I was still battling my own doubts, trying to adjust to a completely different pace of life, and struggling to make things work on my own. Feeling stuck and frustrated became part of my routine. But as I pushed through, I realized how strong I was becoming. I had no choice but to figure things out and keep going.
That’s the thing about resilience—it doesn’t just show up. Every time a problem is solved or a tough day is overcome, you’re building it. Strength grows with each experience, and soon enough, what felt like huge obstacles in the beginning become things you just deal with as part of your routine. You realize you’re more adaptable than you thought, and that strength carries you through everything else that comes your way
You Win Independence and Confidence
One of the quickest ways to step out of your comfort zone is by moving abroad, whether you’re ready for it or not. Suddenly, all the things you used to rely on—family, friends, familiar routines—are no longer there. It’s just you, and that’s when the real shift happens.
At first, it feels overwhelming, trying to figure everything out on your own. But as you tackle each new challenge—setting up a bank account, navigating your way through a new place, handling everyday tasks—you begin to see how capable you are. Every small win builds your confidence, and slowly, you start to trust yourself more. You realize you can handle what comes your way.
For me, moving to Panama meant relying on myself in ways I hadn’t before. I had to make decisions without having someone else to lean on, and that forced me to grow. Over time, you stop doubting yourself so much and start believing in your own ability to figure things out. That’s where real independence comes from, and once you have it, you’ll see how much it changes not only how you live abroad but how you approach everything in life.
Shifting of Your Priorities
When you’re living abroad, your entire perspective on life begins to shift. Once you’re in a new environment, your values and goals can start to shift in ways you didn’t expect. The things that used to seem important may not hold the same weight anymore, and you begin to see life through a different lens.
For me, moving abroad gave me the space to rethink what really matters. I realized that the fast pace and constant push for achievement back home didn’t align with how I wanted to live. Being in a new place, away from everything I knew, helped me focus on what truly makes me happy—like having more freedom, enjoying nature, and spending my days on things that matter to me, not just things that used to feel like obligations.
Over time, you might find yourself questioning old goals or making new ones that better fit your new lifestyle. It’s not about giving up who you were, but about allowing yourself to grow into who you’re meant to be in this new chapter. And living abroad often gives you the clarity to make those shifts, aligning your priorities with the life you actually want to live.
- Laycock, Alan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 213 Pages - 03/03/2018 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
Tips for Managing the Highs and Lows
There will be moments when you feel like everything is falling into place, but there will also be times when you’re questioning your decisions. The key is knowing how to manage both the highs and the lows, so you can stay grounded no matter what comes your way.
How to Mentally Prepare for Your Move
The emotional and practical preparation for a move abroad is just as important as the logistics. You’ll be dealing with so many new things all at once, so preparing yourself mentally is very important to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
So what can you do? How can you prepare?
Time Management and Visualization
First of all, I would recommend planning more time in advance, so that you don’t let your emotions get the best of you.
I would also keep a visualization of the reasons I wanted to move in the first place somewhere easily accessible, like on your phone or laptop background. You need constant reminders of why you made the decision in the first place.
Make Connections and look for Activities
Another tip is to start making connections before you even arrive. Join Facebook groups, forums, or online communities for expats in your new country. Getting involved early gives you a support network right from the start. It’s a great way to ask questions, gather advice, and feel less alone once you’re there.
You can also look into signing up for activities before you move. Whether it’s a gym membership, a yoga class, or a social event, having something lined up gives you something to look forward to. It creates a sense of excitement and purpose, helping you step into your new life with more confidence.
Support System
Finally, don’t hesitate to talk to the people who support your decision. Share your worries with them before the move, so they can encourage you during those hard moments. Their support will help when you start doubting your decision.
Seeing Change as Growth
Change is inevitable when you move abroad. It’s uncomfortable, and there are times when you might wish things would just stay the same. But here’s the truth: the challenges you face are what push you forward. Instead of seeing these obstacles as something to fear, view them as stepping stones toward personal growth.
For me, the biggest shifts happened when I was outside my comfort zone. It’s not always easy—sometimes it’s downright frustrating—but each challenge teaches you something new.
The more you lean into these changes, the more you realize how much they shape who you’re becoming. You start to see that the things you thought were setbacks were actually lessons in disguise, helping you grow stronger and more confident.
So instead of resisting change, recognize it as part of the process. Moving abroad will test you in ways you never imagined, but those moments of challenge are the very things that will lead to your biggest breakthroughs.
The Rewards of Living Abroad
In this final chapter, I’m going to talk about the rewards of living abroad and why everyone should move to a different place at least once to experience the new adventures and personal growth that come with it.
New Opportunities
One of the most exciting parts of moving abroad is the new opportunities that come with it. Starting completely fresh offers the chance to create a life on your own terms. No longer tied to the old routines from back home, you’re pushed to adapt, learn, and grow, which can lead to unexpected but rewarding opportunities.
Different cultures may value skills and talents in ways your home country didn’t, giving you new ways to contribute and succeed. Personally, moving abroad not only helped me grow my online business to support others in making their move, but it also allowed me to create a lifestyle that aligns with the freedom I’ve always wanted
Broadened Horizons
When I first moved from Ecuador to Austria, I quickly learned how little people sometimes know about other countries or cultures. Once, someone literally asked me if I knew what a TV was, and my very racist nickname was “bush woman,” even though I had spent my entire life in Quito, a well-developed city. I was living in a small town in the Tyrolean Alps, and I realized that people didn’t go out much, which limited their horizons.
A new country, a new culture, and new foods should all be exciting things to experience when you move. But what I often see is that expats tend to keep to themselves.
Don’t make that mistake. You’ll never feel at home in a new culture if you don’t take the time to get to know and experience it. The best way to do that is by learning the language, celebrating their holidays and cultural festivities, and going out to meet more and more people.
By doing this, you’ll gain so much. Your perspective will shift, and you might find yourself enjoying some aspects of the new culture even more than what you were used to before. For example, I don’t know if you’ve heard of the Austrian tradition before Christmas called Krampuslauf, where a scary creature punishes children for bad behavior, and they come out during a parade on the 5th of December. I really grew to love this tradition. Christmas wasn’t significant for me when I lived in Ecuador, but with all the Austrian traditions, it became my favorite time of the year.
Personal Growth
Perhaps the greatest reward of living abroad is the personal growth you’ll experience. When you step away from the familiar and face the unknown, you’re forced to grow in so many unexpected ways. You develop new skills and learn to handle the emotional ups and downs that come with such a major transition. You begin to trust yourself more, and in the process, discover a stronger sense of identity.
For me, living abroad has been a journey of self-discovery. I’ve learned how resilient I am, how adaptable I can be, and what truly matters to me. I’ve also met so many inspiring people who have helped me develop into the person I’ve become. It’s a chance to redefine who you are, and as challenging as it can be, it’s the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had.
So if you’ve been dreaming of living abroad, I encourage you to take the leap. Don’t wait until you feel “ready”—just do it. You’ll never be completely ready for this kind of experience; I know that firsthand. But I will never regret the decision I made. I may not know if I’ll still be in Panama in 10 years or even next year, but I do know that every part of this journey has been worth it. I’ve grown so much as a person, as a friend, and as a daughter and sister.
To help make your move smoother, I’ve created something just for you—the Ultimate Moving Abroad Planner. It’s designed to guide you through the challenges we’ve talked about in this blog, so you can focus on creating the life you’ve been dreaming of. If you’re ready to take the next step, you can check it out by clicking the image below.
Final Words
And one last thing I want to leave you with—many people forget this, but even if your move doesn’t go as planned, it’s not final. You can always go back, or try something different. Often, it’s fear that holds us back. Just remember, nothing is set in stone, and you have the power to create a life that fits you.
