It can be daunting planning a move to another country, but if you do it in steps and keep in mind the important details, it will go smoothly. To avoid headaches, check out these three simple tactics for saving yourself stress when moving abroad.
1. Separate What You’ll Need Immediately
When you move abroad, you’ll find you have two different categories of item. There will be things you’ll need immediately upon arrival, and the things that you’ll wait for when the shippers arrive. Design Mom discusses the differences between checking luggage on your own person at the airport, versus using shippers to send everything. It can be cheaper to entrust the bulk of your possessions with the relocation services company you use.
2. Have Your Documents in a Single Central Location
One of the most stressful feelings when you’re in the midst of packing up your things and handing it over to a relocation services company to ship to your new home is losing track of essential papers and documentation. This might include work visa paperwork, passports, or other important identification documents. It’s advisable that before you even start packing things up, place all of these essential items in a binder or centralized location, and keep it somewhere you won’t lose track of it, like a drawer or next to the bed.
3. Make Sure Everyone in Your Family is On Board
If you’re relocating your family to another country and you have children, one important thing that can make the transition go much more smoothly is making sure they have everything they need and that they understand what’s going on. Sometimes, children will hold in their own stress because they don’t know how to express it, so make sure you talk to your kids about their feelings. This can also help establish that they need to bring a favorite teddy bear on the plane that saves a tantrum later.
The process of relocating to another country is always going to be a bit stressful, since that’s the innate nature of moving house. However, you can minimize anxiety by being sufficiently prepared and organized, and then able to quickly settle into your new home.
