It’s fairly common to marvel at the thought of living abroad. After all, who wouldn’t want to bike to work in Amsterdam, take a lunch break in Paris, or kayak through the fjords of Scandinavia on the weekends? If you don’t feel connected to where you currently live, haven’t put down many roots, and daydream about what life would be like in another country, this may be your sign to take the leap and move abroad. 

You may be worried about making such a monumental change and jumping into so many unknowns, especially getting the hang of new customs and cultural considerations. Luckily, jumping out of your comfort zone is when you’ll experience the most personal growth. 

Despite the anxiety that you may feel, sailing into new waters can build your confidence, help you learn more about yourself, expand your relationships, and create a life for yourself that resists the mundane.  

Preparing a move overseas

Avoid the headaches and frustration of moving by taking the time to develop a plan. Being fully prepared for your move overseas will make the transition to your new home much smoother. Start by putting some money away in savings, updating your passport, and applying for any necessary visas. 

Once you’ve sorted out the basics, you can start thinking about your living situation. Are you going to ship your belongings to your destination, store them somewhere, or sell them and pocket the extra cash? When it comes to your vehicle, booking auto transportation services from reputable providers like Guardian Auto Transport (www.guardianautotransport.com) is a critical step in moving abroad. 

Not only will you get to keep your car, but you can also rest easy knowing that it will be well taken care of while being delivered to your new home. As your move date approaches, make sure you have copies of bank statements and critical identification documents like your passport and immunization records.

More time to explore new places

For those living in the United States, flying overseas is costly, time-consuming, and requires a lot of planning. Moving overseas puts bucket-list cities within reach. Typically, you’d have to take a ten (or more) hour flight with multiple layovers to indulge in must-visit locations like Italy’s Amalfi coast, Japan’s city of Kyoto, or Australia’s Great Ocean Road. By contrast, moving nearby cuts down on time and cost, as you may only have to take a short train ride or flight. If you’re hoping to see more of the world, moving abroad will make it easier for that dream to come alive.

Professional development 

Applying for jobs, especially senior-level positions, can be exhaustingly competitive. Simply living and working abroad can give you a much-needed advantage over other applicants for a few reasons. 

Larger companies with international locations would be impressed to see that you’ve had experience living and working in other countries, as this time spent abroad demonstrates to them that you’re able to interact with people from various cultural backgrounds successfully. Besides, a number of companies from various countries tend to hire foreign workers with better skills than the local citizens have. For instance, a number of Canadian employers hiring foreign workers in Canada (employeurs qui embauchent des travailleurs étrangers au Canada) will value those candidates who have international work experience.

The ability to thrive amid foreign cultures is an invaluable asset when your job description involves communicating with other employees that work in a different nation, especially if you’ve picked up some foreign language skills during your time abroad. 

Expand your social network

Starting your life in a new country can be intimidating, with friends and family thousands of miles away. While venturing out into the unknown alone can trigger some travelers’ fight-or-flight response, these moments spent outside of your comfort zone are the perfect opportunity to forge new relationships and expand your social network. 

Starting from scratch can allow you to truly hone in on what you want out of your friendships. Are most of your friends back home the easy-going, ‘let’s stay in and watch a movie’ type, while you’re more of an outdoor adventurer? Now’s the time to connect with fellow adventurers who similarly enjoy hiking, biking, or any other hobbies. 

Broaden your horizons

Living overseas and navigating unique social and political norms will challenge your way-of-thinking and nudge you down the path to self-discovery. Not to mention, witnessing these cultural differences up-close-and-personal allows you to flesh out your personal beliefs fully. 

You’ll also get to experience the smaller joys that these communities hold dear, like region-specific foods and drinks. Cuisine plays a pivotal role in identity and connectedness in most cultures, so by partaking in new ingredients and traditions, you may feel more connected to the area you’ll be living in. Plus, trying different foods is an exciting way to find new favorite snacks and meals to share with your friends and family back home. 

Final thoughts

As a tried-and-true springboard for global adventure, living abroad allows travel-hungry professionals to ditch their monotonous routines and explore exotic locations. Don’t waste another precious second trudging through your 9-to-5. Live overseas and reap the benefits of exposure to new cultures.