12 Aug 12

De-Stress Your Move by Making a Stopover

Moving abroad is never an easy or stress-free experience. Consider taking some time to recharge your batteries before entering your new country of residence. A short holiday or stopover between the preparations and planning on location eases the moving stress and ensures that you can start your new life abroad refreshed and better prepared to handle whatever comes.

Jan and I made a stopover in Colombia for two weeks before heading to Mexico. We didn´t expect to have the opportunity to go on vacation for at least the first year abroad (which turned out to be true), so making good use of this break seemed an appealing idea. We hadn´t thought of it much more but afterwards it turned out to provide valuable advantages.

Relaxation Benefits: Time to Take Care of Yourself

A stopover gives you plenty of free time. Regarding the relocation arrangements you have either already taken care of it or you have to wait until arrival at your final destination. Believe that during this holiday there is nothing you can do but rest. Prioritize taking care of yourself and make sure that your stopover is refreshing and not exhausting.

We reached out to the northern coast of Colombia. Coveñas Beach offered us exactly what we needed: an abundance of sunlight for a natural dose of vitamin D and suberp hammocks to catch up some sleep. There was really not much to do in this tiny authentic beach town. I started writing my expat journal including thoughts and feelings about this exciting happening in my life. And I read some fiction to get distracted from the big move we were in fact making.

Although I didn´t feel very stressed before departure, in Colombia I started to notice some tension. No wonder of course because the preparations had taken a couple of months and I had only just stopped working. Afterwards I think directly diving into the expat life could have taking its toll on my health and well-being. The magical combination of sea, sun, sand and sleep made me feel more energetic and less fragile.

Culture & Language Benefits: Choose the location wisely

It totally makes sense to choose a location that complements your relocation. Staying in a touristy area of the country you are moving to, gives you the opportunity to acclimatize to the culture and its language. We choose Colombia because we also wanted to see Jan’s Colombian family. We still had the benefits of practicing the Spanish language and getting used to at least a similar Latin culture.

Stopover not Possible? One Great Alternative

If you don´t have the possibility to make a stopover you can consider enjoying a staycation; a local holiday before taking off. Put yourself a deadline one or two weeks before the actual departure date in order to have some time off before leaving. You can visit your favorite restaurant, bar, museum and park, enjoy nature, do sports, or get yourself a wellness detox. Do whatever you like to do to relax. Moreover, a staycation is a great idea to “say goodbye” to all the fun stuff in your surroundings and it is easier to integrate your family and friends if you like.