Are you dreaming of moving abroad but have not idea where to start? Have you tried to move overseas but not succeeded yet? Do you want to start your move abroad journey?  Thousands of people move every year, but even more dream of moving abroad and don’t make their dreams come true. Not you! 

We want to help you to set yourself up for success. To take your dream and shape it into a real and tangible plan that you can action. That’s why we have created this 3-step journey for beginners like you. Today we will share our 3 essential steps to start your move abroad journey and give you the tools and the tips to move from a dream to an action plan. Let’s get started. 

Step 1: Shape your Dream 

We all have dreams and wishes for the future, and for us to achieve our dreams, it is essential to get a better understanding of those dreams. When it comes to your moving abroad dream, it is key to write down your dream. Make your dream more real and tangible by describing your thoughts and feelings. Here are some examples of how you can do this in a fun, exploratory way:

• Explore: Check out Instagram pages from expats or popular hashtags, read the interviews with people from all over the world here on our site, or talk to someone you know who moved abroad.
• Research Countries/Cities: Research lots of countries and cities. What cities fit in your dream scenario? Where do you see yourself living? (remember, this is soft-exploration only, no need to know if it is feasible at this stage). 

By doing these exploration exercises, you’ll create a better picture of what you want (and what you don’t want). Creating scenarios in your head and figuring out what you really, really want is super important in this beginner’s phase. Once you have a clear idea of your dream, you are ready to go to the next step. 

Step 2: Making it Real

We can only realize our dreams if we take action, but before you start planning your move abroad, you should learn more about this journey and what challenges you could face. Set realistic expectations and be honest with yourself about your motives.

Listen, moving abroad is an incredible, life-changing experience, but it’s not easy, and there will be a lot for you to manage and organize. We don’t want to scare or dishearten you. We want to make sure that you get honest and realistic advice. Preparing and planning a move abroad requires time, money, focus, and dedication. Once you arrive, the settling-in period can be tricky, too (think homesickness, finding a job, different cultures, etc.). 

So, make sure you are in it for the right reasons. Dive into your “Why” and get a good understanding of your motives. Educate yourself on what this massive change will mean for you, your family, and your friends. Once you have a realistic view of your dream, your motives, and its impact on your life, you are ready for the next step.

Step 3: Get in Motion

You have a dream (a super exciting one, if you ask us ;-)), and you have an understanding of the impact this move will have on your life. At this stage, you might even have thought about a destination. Yeah, you! 

With a clear idea of your dream, you are ready to get yourself an action plan. A plan where you outline the actions you will take in the following weeks or months. Make this a very detailed and concrete plan that is geared towards taking action. Make sure you hold yourself accountable and tell your friends and family. Talk to your boss (if there are options to be relocated through work), and focus on this one task at hand: achieving your moving abroad dream!

Being in the right mindset is very important, and you need to trust in yourself to stay motivated, even when you might face some setbacks. Don’t be too distracted by concerns or doubts and really focus on achieving your goal.  Start your move abroad journey right now. You can do it! You will do it!

To help you out, we created this practical ‘Let’s Move Abroad Activity Sheet’. Print it out and turn your dream into a plan!

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Now that you have taken these three essential steps, you are ready to start planning your move abroad. Yes, my friend, this is only the beginning, but taking these steps is important. To go from a dream to a more concrete, realistic plan is very helpful. Once you have a better understanding of what you want and how you want to do it, it will be a lot easier for you to achieve your dreams.

The 3 essential steps to start your move abroad journey are just the tip of the iceberg, you can find over 40 activities to plan your move with confidence and lots more tips and resources in the Let’s Move Abroad book.

Follows your dreams and create a life that makes you happy. Give yourself that extra push and get the book today. You will thank yourself later!