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Decision, Decisions, Decisions!

Making the decision to move overseas in the first place is huge; it starts with ‘should we stay or should we go?’ And just spirals from there.

All this decision-making pressure can become too much, particularly when we are moving overseas and there are so many unknowns to factor in.

We make between 1000-5000 decisions every single, normal day. Which is why making extra, life-changing choices on top of leads to O.M.G ARRRGH! Or, to give it an official name, decision fatigue. It’s a form of mental exhaustion and ultimately causes you to either stop making decisions or making poor choices.

Making good decisions is something that can be lost in the mix of overthinking and over analysing: you get into a state of ‘Can’t see the wood for the trees’ – you’re looking at the tiny details instead of the big picture.

Are you confident in your decision-making skills? Or would you like a little help from someone who’s been there and done that – several times? Someone who can help you see the big picture and help you cut through the wood so you can see the trees?

If you need someone neutral to chat it all over with, in complete confidence. I’m here for you! Let me help lighten your mental load. I can help you discover everything you need to make the best decision for you and your family.

While I can’t make your decisions for you, I can offer honest advice, experience-based suggestions, recommendations, tools and tips to lighten your mental and emotional load.

I’m dedicated to helping you simplify your expat decision-making process, so you have clarity and confidence in the major life choices you’re making.

Get in touch today!

• To book a Decision-Maker Power Hour call with me to help you through this madly busy time, please check out my diary, here: Expat Espresso Hour
• If you have ONE topic you'd like some clarity on, try my Expat Ristretto 30 minutes option! Book here: Expat Ristretto
• Get expat life support at every stage of your expat journey - from home to away and back again! Join The Expatability Club: the one-stop-shop for everything expat.
• Visit ExpatChild.com for more free information about expat life!

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Expats are at double the risk of mental health conditions compared to people who never move abroad. And over half of those who are unhappy living abroad say that not having a personal support network in the host country contributes to their unhappiness.

We have great hopes for our new expat life, but reality often lets us down. We realise that expat life is not the Instaperfect dream we expected and this can hurt. Expat life is an emotional rollercoaster. Many say it, many agree – you have ups and downs. It’s when the ups disappear and the downs dip further and stay down that we need to get support and help.

Nobody expects to experience mental health problems, and nobody can predict how you will cope with your new life, however resilient you think you may be.

Being properly and realistically prepared for your new life abroad makes it easier to manage your expectations and hopefully prevent some of negative experiences you may encounter.

• Get expat life support at every stage of your expat journey - from home to away and back again! Join The Expatability Club: the one-stop-shop for everything expat.
• Want independent advice about your move overseas? For a one-to-one chat, please check my calendar for dates and options here

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Expect the Unexpected
Culture Shock
Expats and the Holiday Season

These three topic were planned for separate episodes, but life events meant it made sense to see if I could fit them all into one episode, just in time for the Holidays! I think I succeeded 🤪
I wanted to talk about how strange and different, and sometimes upsetting these special holidays can be for expats living away from their home countries and families.

And the reason these special, family-oriented dates feel so different and sometimes difficult is ultimately down to culture shock!
As for the Expect the Unexpected bit? One of my favourite expat-mentoring mantras is 'Expect the Unexpected'. Some of the ‘unexpected’ is funny, some of it can be a bit frustrating, but we can usually steer ourselves through it all.
Sometimes, however, that unexpected is a complete and utter blind-sider that nothing could have prepared me for.
What happened? Well, listen and find out...

• Get expat life support at every stage of your expat journey - from home to away and back again! Join The Expatability Club: the one-stop-shop for everything expat.
• Want independent advice about your move overseas? For a one-to-one chat, please check my calendar for dates and options here
• Visit ExpatChild.com for more free information about expat life!
• Join my Expat Parents' Support Group on Facebook
• Sign up to receive my Expat Newsletter to keep up to date and in the loop with everything I do

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Expat Guilt. The one topic guaranteed to fire some people up, the one topic that’s tormenting many of my readers, my groups, my tribe. The topic that gets the most attention, the most comments, the most bitterness, the most sadness and causes every shade of angst you can possibly imagine.

Expat guilt can ruin your life overseas as you’re so busy thinking of others that you can’t truly live your own life. But you're not alone - believe me!

Discover what expat guilt is about, what it’s for, how it can help you see your life choices from another’s perspective, and most importantly, how to manage these heavy feelings. Find out how to deal with your family’s feelings and how to cope with your own.

I’ll give you the tools to help you escape the trap of expat guilt and move forward to a happier life abroad without neglecting your family and friends back home.

Don't let expat guilt get in the way of the exciting life you deserve. You deserve to be happy in your life overseas!

• Get expat life support at every stage of your expat journey - from home to away and back again! Join The Expatability Club: the one-stop-shop for everything expat.
• Want independent advice about your move overseas? For a one-to-one chat, please check my calendar for dates and options here
• Find my special 'Erase Expat Guilt and Reclaim Your Life' master class here
• Read my article on Expat Guilt on ExpatChild.com
• Visit ExpatChild.com for more free information about expat life!
• Take a look at my Expatability site for more details

"Guilt is a useless feeling. It’s never enough to make you change direction - only enough to make you useless."
Daniel Nayeri

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In this episode I dip my toes in to the world that is learning a new language. With a few quick tips on language learning for both you and your children.

Even if you’re moving for just a couple of years or so, you’ll get so much more out of your stay if you can speak the lingo.

I’ll share 5 reasons why an expat should learn the local language, however long you’ll be living in that country. And especially if you’re moving to an expat hub – get yourself out of the expat bubble and thrive!

Also, I’ll offer you some quick tips to get you up and running. And most of what I talk about will apply to your kids as well as you.

Then I move onto talking about what’s known as full immersion language learning, and the pros and cons of that... Whilst it’s generally acknowledged that full immersion into a language is the best way to become fluent, this is pretty stressful and not always possible.

And I’ll share why I don’t believe that full immersion is always a good format for children and can be extremely damaging for some.

Not learning the language will make your everyday expat life more stressful – like going to doctors, shopping or getting your paperwork done – simple things you’ve always taken for granted become minefields when you’re trying to navigate them in a foreign language.

If you don’t speak the language, you will feel cut off from the country you live in.

Remember, learning even a few words and phrases of a new language is inclusive and will open so many doors for you as well as boosting your confidence and giving you a massive sense of achievement.

• Get expat life support at every stage of your expat journey - from home to away and back again! Join The Expatability Club so you can get your priority boarding pass when the doors to this very exclusive club are open.
• Want independent advice about your move overseas? For a one-to-one chat, please check my calendar for dates and options here
• All my articles on Language Learning on ExpatChild here
• Companies who offer Language Courses on The Expat Directory
• Take a look at my Expatability site for more details on how we can work together to make your expat life the dream life you want!

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