Read on to learn a few ways that you can help a loved one who is moving abroad so they feel calm, confident, supported and prepared.
Moving abroad, across borders, to a whole new country is a big and daunting step for anyone to take. However, if your loved one is doing just that, then you might be feeling a mix of emotions, such as excitement, sadness to see them go, and fear of the unknown future that could lie on the other side.
To alleviate some of the stresses that come with those feelings, you might want to take the time to help them settle safely and securely on the other side. No worries – I’m here to help you to do just that.
I’m writing this article because I’m a bestselling author of happiness books. I wrote a bestselling meditation guide called Instant Calm and founded the groundbreaking video course called The Anxiety Cure. I love sharing insights and strategies to help people stay calm and happy – especially during stressful times of change.
Coming up I will sharing some key ways that you can help a loved one who is moving abroad.
Sometimes, the most stressful part of beginning a life overseas is simply getting there in the first place. Packing, making their way to the airport, and tying up any loose ends before they go can take plenty of energy and time, and you can offer to help them during this period.
Whether you help them pack up and find storage for anything they’re leaving behind, for now, or you offer to drive them to the airport to bid them farewell at the gate, you can alleviate a lot of the stress of moving abroad, which might help them better focus on the exciting parts of starting this new chapter of their life.
As soon as your loved one lands on the other side, they are going to find themselves in an unfamiliar land, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, for the most part. It might be the case that they have some contacts out there, but still, you should get in touch with them early and often.
There are plenty of online tools that you can use to chat with them overseas at no cost, so you don’t have to run up your phone bill catching up with them. Just make sure that you account for the timezone and know what time it is when you’re calling so that you don’t end up interrupting their work day or waking them up at night.
Sometimes, the need that your loved one has might be much more simple: they might need money to help with their finances. First of all, do some due diligence to make sure that their need is real, and not a scammer trying to use their identity to get to you, which can happen if said scammers learn that someone you love is overseas.
Once you confirm it is them and their need is legitimate, then finding a way to send money online can be a huge help. Not every bank will allow you to make a transfer to another country’s bank account without a lot of work to make it happen, but online transfers are usually quicker and easier.
If your loved one is moving with their children, then this introduces a whole other factor that they have to get prepared for, and you can help them do that to some degree.
For one, you can help to build the children’s excitement by looking up information and fun facts about the place that they are moving to.
There are also practical considerations when it comes to moving with children, such as keeping up with their education.
You can take the time to help your loved one research international schools, helping them better see the options out there.
Of course, the final decision is very much going to be theirs to make, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be useful.
Your loved one is likely to be a touch homesick, whether it’s for the little treats and things that they might have trouble finding overseas, or it’s just because they feel like they don’t have the same level of emotional support where they are.
While it is up to them to make a new life for themselves in their new location, you can let them know that they always have someone on their side. You can do this by giving them a taste of home to indulge in by sending a care package overseas. Just make sure that you’re aware of any laws on what can or can’t be sent or received on either end to avoid your package being held up.
It’s not always easy to do so, especially if they’re on the other side of the planet, but sometimes you can really make the best of a big move if you come to visit them in the first 6 to 12 months.
A lot of people promise to visit, so if you do, then start planning to make it a reality as soon as possible.
Start budgeting for the visit even before they leave, if you can, and when you have the money, use online flight comparison tools to help you make the trip for less.
Not only can you brighten their day by being there to spend time with them and give them a familiar face, but you can help them better appreciate where they are when they start showing you around to the places they’ve come to love.
While you should always be mindful of safety, security, and the need for new arrivals to a new place to be a little more cautious, you should encourage your loved one to get out there and start making friends and memories in the place where they are living. One of the reasons some people can find it difficult to adjust to a new place is that they are focusing too much on what they’re missing, which makes them even more homesick. Be a support for them and instead of building those regrets, encourage them to be brave and see the positive of their new situation.
Moving overseas is a big challenge for anyone, and offering them any support that you can will be a massive help to them. Offer what you can, but make sure that you take care of yourself, too.
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