Set Yourself Up for Success While Working Abroad

The time has come. You found a job that will allow you to live and work in a foreign country, which presents the opportunity of a lifetime to travel and experience life outside of your comfort zone. Even though this is a very exciting occasion, it can come with many doubts and lingering ‘what ifs’.

Thankfully, many of the common challenges and grievances around living abroad can be settled with the correct preparation, for both before and during the experience, to help set yourself up for success with this new adventure. Get ready for working abroad because the preparation time starts now!

Keep and open mind

Of course before moving, you should research the history and customs of your new home to get a feel of what to expect. However, when you finally touch down, be sure to keep an open mind. The perception you might have of a place can be turned entirely upside down once you start settling in and exploring.

Remind yourself that you are a foreigner there who is stepping into the way of life and cultural norm that is different from what you are accustomed to. Be prepared for things to be done differently and to accept these changes as part of your new normal while living there. Moving abroad calls for adaptability and a global mindset in preparation to step out of your comfort zone.

Build a support system

A part of moving abroad that no one really talks about is the loneliness that comes with it. Back home, you had a support system of friends, family, doctors, and coworkers that were there for you. When moving abroad for work, you have to start all over again, and it takes time to rebuild those connections.

Once you’re abroad, you can easily start meeting other people through work, mobile apps, Facebook expat groups, language exchange meetups, and at local events. We can guarantee that there are many other people in the same situation as you who are looking for friends to enjoy the experience together and to form their own community abroad.

Find the right accommodation

Having the right place to live can make a big difference in your experience working abroad. Your apartment and neighborhood should both complement your lifestyle and living preferences in order to help you feel more comfortable and at home in your new city. It’s important to do your research on the best neighborhood for you that’s filled with places you value and a community you want to join. Luckily for you, Ukio can help you find the perfect apartment in the perfect neighborhood that you’ll be sure to call home.

Balance work and self-care

When moving abroad for work, you obviously want to have enough time and focus to complete your daily tasks, but you should also take advantage of living in a new country. While exploring the many things your new city has to offer and the closeby places that are worth visiting, it’s important to remember that you also need time to relax and have a routine during the week.

Ideally, you need to find a balance between work and fun to truly settle in and establish yourself as a long-term traveler in the country you now call home. Having a good work-life balance is important for your mental health, personal well being, and happiness.

Learn the language

Even knowing a few words and phrases in the language of your new home can go a long way. Not being able to communicate with the people around you can feel like a bit of a setback when it comes to performing daily tasks or making friends, but that feeling doesn’t have to last forever.

Odds are if you surround yourself with a new language, you can easily improve your level and comprehension just by practicing a bit every day. Take a couple of lessons before moving and join a class once you reach your destination. Language classes are another great way to meet friends while going on your language journey.

Know your comfort zone

Working abroad is exciting, but you will only ever fully enjoy the experience if you recognize what you’re comfortable with doing and trying and what you’re not. Of course, you will want to experience everything you can within your time there, but if you push yourself too much, then you might feel a bit out of place or stressed out.

To find success while working abroad, it's important to want to go outside of your normal routine at home, but you don’t have to jump fully in the deep end. It’s okay to try things slowly and to adapt to the new way of life over time. Be true to yourself and what you feel safe doing, and you will fully immerse yourself and enjoy your time abroad at your own pace.

Welcome the adventure

Going off our last point, you want to be comfortable within your time in a new city, but it’s also good to welcome adventure and take advantage of the situation at hand. Living abroad is a huge privilege and sometimes a once in a lifetime experience. There will be times when you will be asked to try something new or to do something that you wouldn’t normally do at home. As long as you’re feeling comfortable with the experience at hand, just go for it, within reason. Living and working abroad is all about trying something new.

Make working abroad easier with Ukio

If you’re making the move abroad, or just thinking about working in a new country, Ukio can help you achieve this goal. We offer month-long premium apartment rentals in cities across Europe, all of which are equipped with a dedicated workstation and high-speed internet to create the perfect work from home environment.

Whether your company is sending you abroad, or you’re fulfilling a lifelong dream of yours to live in a foreign country, let Ukio help you with finding the right apartment in your ideal location. The right accommodation can make or break your experience, so find the best apartments with us.