Living as an expatriate can be an exciting and fulfilling experience, offering opportunities for personal growth, cultural immersion, and career development.
However, many expats experience feelings of guilt associated with being away from their home country, family, and friends. Expat guilt can manifest in various forms, including homesickness, anxiety, and a sense of disconnect from your loved ones back home.
Are you experiencing these feelings as an expat and looking for ways to reduce the guilt you’re facing? Discover effective strategies to expat guilt and improve your mental state while embracing the unique journey of living abroad.
How can you decrease feelings of expat guilt after moving abroad? Discover six ways to combat these complex emotions in our list below!
One of the best ways to deal with feelings of expat guilt is to find a supportive network of friends in your new country.
Building a network of fellow expats who understand the challenges of living abroad can provide a vital support system. Engaging with expat communities, social clubs, or professional networks empowers you to establish connections and foster a sense of belonging — something which is even more valuable when you’re away from home.
Sharing experiences and emotions with like-minded people can alleviate feelings of isolation and provide valuable insights into navigating expat life. The more you’re able to connect with folks in your new home, the less you will feel overwhelmed by these difficult, complex feelings.
Though physical distance may separate expats from their loved ones, investing time and effort into maintaining relationships is a necessity.
Regularly keeping in touch with your friends and family back home can make a huge difference when combating expat guilt. Regular communication through phone calls, video chats, and social media can bridge the geographical gap and alleviate the difficulty of missing each other.
If possible, creating a schedule so you can regularly communicate with your loved ones will give you a phone call or video chat to look forward to periodically.
Revisiting your personal goals and reasons for choosing the expat life can provide valuable perspective and reaffirm your decision to move abroad.
Take time to reflect on the opportunities you’ve discovered for personal growth, career advancement, or global experiences that living abroad offers — things that you otherwise would’ve missed out on if you had chosen to stay in your home country.
Reconnecting in this way allows you to celebrate achievements and focus on the positive aspects of the expat journey to counterbalance any feelings of guilt you may be experiencing.
To improve feelings of guilt as an expatriate, plan visits with loved ones whenever you can, creating an experience to look forward to and a way to connect with your loved ones in person.
Find ways to both visit your home country and have your friends and family visit your new country, as this can be an exciting and positive experience for everyone. Your loved ones will be able to see the life you’ve created for yourself in your new home, and you can go back home to reconnect with the people you’ve been missing. Both of these arrangements can have a positive impact on the guilt you’re feeling.
Taking care of yourself is crucial in combating expat guilt. Self-care can come in many forms, and finding what rejuvenates you and brings you comfort can be a powerful tool.
Engage in activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as regular exercise, hobbies, and mindfulness or meditation. Prioritizing self-care and seeking professional help if needed are essential elements of maintaining emotional balance and improving your overall quality of life as an expat.
As you battle feelings of expat guilt, remember to embrace the life that you have made in your new home and the beautiful culture that you have been able to experience in a different country.
Appreciate these aspects of expat living when you’re feeling these challenging negative emotions, as this can provide a helpful perspective that offers balance. Explore your new country’s culture by learning the language, exploring traditions, and engaging in activities that allow for a deeper understanding of the country.
This active participation fosters a sense of connection and appreciation, minimizing feelings of detachment. By embracing the new culture, expats can develop a stronger sense of belonging.
Although life as an expat can come with various emotional struggles, the countless rewards of this new lifestyle can be truly transformative.
With the right coping strategies in place, you can decrease the feelings of guilt and make the most of this enlightening experience. Although it can take some time to figure out what works best for you, it’s a worthwhile pursuit in order to enjoy a happy, healthy life as an expat!
Looking for international movers in Chicago to facilitate your international relocation? Count on Allied International to meet all of your international moving needs. Allied has a 136-year history of successfully completing overseas moves, providing the necessary knowledge and expertise for our customers.
We offer everything from vehicle moving to packing services and everything in between. When you’re ready to venture on an international move, Allied has all the solutions you need to streamline your relocation.
Request a free quote online today, and get the ball rolling on your exciting move!
We carefully and methodically pack and crate your items, ensuring their safe and secure arrival. We take pride in the expert packing, crating, and handling of your possessions.
Our aim is to have your belongings safely and quickly transported to your new location, with a focus on customer service and your utmost satisfaction.
We provide you with a personal moving coordinator. You can check in any time you wish, connecting to the same person who will be very familiar with your particular custom moving plan.
