Moving to a new country can be an incredibly exciting period in your life and the start of a new chapter. While it is exciting, it can also be hugely stressful, daunting and challenging and this can take its toll on your mental health. This is why it is so important for people moving overseas to know how they can manage these emotions, look after their mental health and get settled in their new home.
So, if you’ve packed up your belongings and used an international shipping firm to deliver them to your new home, how can you prepare yourself mentally for the big move?
Schedule Regular Catch-Ups
The hardest part of moving to a new country for many will be the friends and family left behind. Therefore, you should schedule regular catch-ups with your loved ones to prevent homesickness – video calls will be the best way to do this as they can allow you to have a face-to-face conversation.
Form a Routine
Mental health can suffer when life feels chaotic and out of control. Moving to a new country will always be disruptive, which is why it is a good idea to try and get into a positive routine as early as possible. Routine provides stability and structure, so try to establish one as early as you can (it might be helpful to create a routine similar to your one back at home).
Plan a Trip Home & Invite People
If possible, it is helpful to plan a trip home at some point in the near future. You do not want to return home too quickly as you need time to settle, but a trip home after you have settled in your new home can give you something to look forward to. In addition to this, you should invite friends and family out to stay with you – this gives you a chance to stay and get settled but also catch up with loved ones.
Join a Group in Your New Area
One of the reasons that people struggle with mental health when moving to a new country is loneliness. To prevent this, you should join a group in your new area to make new friends. This could be an ex-pat group, a sports team, a social hobby or an activity through meet-ups.
Exercise & Get Plenty of Sleep
A healthy lifestyle is important for mental health, but it can be hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you move to a new country. This is why you need to make an effort from the start by exercising regularly (running is a great way to discover your new area), eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.
Hopefully, the advice in this post will be useful and help you to get settled in your new home.