Why it’s Important to Stay in Touch With Loved Ones When You Move Abroad
Moving abroad is a huge decision. Although it presents opportunities to make new friends, progress in your dream career, and explore new sites of the world, it can also be a daunting and lonely process.
This is particularly true if you are moving to a new country alone. You may feel overwhelmed, confused, and lonely at times, and you may begin questioning your decision.
However, there are things you can do to relieve feelings of loneliness and enjoy your ex-pat journey every step of the way. One of the best things you can do for an easy move is stay in touch with your loved ones back at home.
In this article, we are going to explore why staying in touch with your close friends and family is so essential when you’re moving abroad and becoming an ex-pat.
Why is Staying in Touch with Friends and Family Important?
Keeping in regular contact with your friends and relatives as an ex-pat living in a foreign country has never been easier, thanks to technological advancements.
You can purchase international cell phone plans that provide you with endless minutes to chat on the phone with your loved ones. Alternatively, you can use a video calling platform, such as Zoom or Skype, to see each other face-to-face and interact on a more personal level.
Of course, there is also social media that you can use to message your loved ones, share funny memes, or comment on each other’s new photographs.
Let’s take a look at why it’s important to stay in touch with loved ones when you move to a foreign country and no longer live in close proximity to them.
It maintains great mental and emotional health
Moving to another country brings about a lot of worries and anxiety for many. It’s a drastic change that can take a long time to get used to and accept.
Often, new ex-pats find that, during this adjustment period, they feel emotionally unstable. They may be filled with worry and apprehension, causing their mental health to take a dip.
Staying in touch with your friends and family reduces the risk of you experiencing poor mental health when you move. Your loved ones can support you emotionally, even from thousands of miles away.
They can provide an emotional anchor that makes you feel more comfortable, calm, and secure. They can also offer guidance if you’re struggling to fit into your new community, make new friends, or explore local sites.
Having the support of your friends and family boosts your confidence and enables you to enjoy your experience. You can share your worries and allow them to uplift you when you’re feeling down or anxious.
Maintaining your existing relationships
Maintaining your close relationships is essential for staying happy and healthy as an ex-pat. Your social health is a key aspect of your overall well-being, so it’s important not to neglect it, even if you’re in the middle of a big move.
Aim to continue or even improve your existing relationships when you move abroad by fostering a deeper connection with your loved ones. When you stay in regular contact and make a conscious effort to catch up with your friends and family back home, your social bonds remain strong and continue to thrive, despite the long distance between you and your loved ones.
Continuing family traditions and celebrating important milestones
Your family may uphold yearly traditions, whether these are religious, cultural, or personal traditions. You can continue celebrating with your relatives even if you live in another country by keeping in touch.
You can uphold long-standing traditions with your loved ones and continue being an important part of each celebration. In turn, you can help to maintain these traditions and celebrations into the next generation and beyond.
Regularly calling and messaging your friends and relatives at home means you can continue celebrating important milestones with them, as you would have done so if you remained living in your home country.
You can enjoy your family member’s birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, weddings, pregnancy announcements, and births. They can also celebrate your personal achievements and milestones, too. As a result, you can stay a significant part of their lives and maintain strong relationships with each family member.
Making it easier to adjust to your new life
Simply speaking to your family and friends can make adjusting to your new life easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable. Your loved ones know what makes you feel comfortable, and they can calm your mind with kind words and support.
They can offer a sense of belonging that makes you feel more at ease in an unfamiliar environment. With the support of your closest friends and family, you can navigate your new surroundings and get the most out of your ex-pat journey from the moment it begins.
