As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, this includes your overseas stay too. If your time abroad is coming to an end, you might have mixed feelings about coming back home. As much as you’re looking forward to rekindling old friendships, it’s hard to shake off that nagging feeling that you might not fit in just like how you used to back then. While you’re planning to pack your belongings and arrange for shipment with the removalist, be prepared on what lies ahead when you’re back home. Fret not, we’ve put together some helpful tips to help ease the process of settling down during COVID-19.
Manage your expectations
The planning process for coming home can be tedious and overwhelming to handle. But it is a necessary step if you want to ensure a smooth journey back with all your belongings in place, and that includes engaging in a professional international packer and mover for a fuss-free shipment process. While you’re at it, it’s just as important to prepare yourself mentally so you’d be less disappointed later on.
Paint a realistic picture of what your life will look like after coming home. Just like how you’ve changed while working abroad, so have your friends and family. Certain relationship dynamics might have changed, so allow for some time for everyone to feel at ease and familiar with each other again.
Adjust in new routines
After travelling around the globe regularly, you might think that the days of culture shock are way behind you. But reverse culture shock exists, though it might be a weird thing to think about. Many things you once found normal in the past might feel strange and unfamiliar to you, like having to adjust your mealtime. Most importantly, you must give yourself time to get used to your new way of life here.
Be proactive in catching up with friends
Now that we’re living amid a global pandemic, social interactions outside are limited in efforts to curb the virus from spreading. Upon arrival, you might be quarantined for up to two weeks, before returning home to self-quarantine as much as possible. This means, reintegrating back into society might prove harder, especially during this new normal.
Your friends have had to make do without you in person for a long while, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t care about you as much anymore. Be proactive in reaching out to them and show how much they still matter to you. While face-to-face and virtual interactions may not be the ideal option, it’s the most suitable choice for now.
Join a network with people of similar experiences
Once the initial excitement of catching up with old friends have subsided, it can get pretty lonely once everyone gets back to their regular lives. And of course, you’ll also miss your travels abroad and the friends you’ve made then.
The best way to combat this is to make new friends actively. Join groups on social media platforms or take up volunteering roles. This way, you’re also expanding your social circle as you form new memories in your old home.
Conclusion
By coming home from abroad, you’re not leaving an adventure; you’re just embarking on a new journey. The transition can feel painfully long and harder than you might expect, but give yourself time to settle down. Don’t sink into your old life; living abroad has probably changed you for the better in many ways.
Whenever you’re planning to come home, allow Moovaz to help make the transition smoother. Sign up with us before the end of June to enjoy $100 off the quotation for our relocation services to aid in your post-COVID-19 move. For more details, check out our website.
