5 life lessons I learned from moving to another country

When I was younger (let’s not count the years!), I did a few seasons working in Ibiza and fell in love with the island. Ever since, it’s been my dream to work for myself and go back there to live.

In the past few years, the way we work has changed dramatically. But lucky for me, this meant I could make my dream a reality. In 2022, I headed back to Ibiza and worked abroad for 6 months.

Because of this, my outlook on life had a major revamp. I learnt many valuable lessons both in life and in business whilst I was over there. So, here are some of the things I learned from moving to another country.

You can do anything you set your mind to

Nothing boosts confidence like taking a step into the unknown. Leaving behind friends, family, and everything familiar seemed daunting at first. Yet after a few weeks, what I thought was scary, became quickly very exciting! I settled into my new surroundings, met some interesting people, and embraced a different way of living and working. It all soon became the norm and I’m so glad I did it!

Making new friends is hard but worth the effort

As a remote brand designer and creature of habit, this was one of the biggest challenges I faced. It’s too easy to stay in the flat and get lost in the day-to-day demands of the job. I soon realised that I had to get out there and get out of my comfort zone. Whether it was going to the local cafe (shout out to The Standard in Ibiza Town… fave place!), cornering someone in the kitchen at the co-working space or joining a new class. Saying yes to (almost) everything, was a great way to meet more like-minded people. They are out there… I promise!

The sun is the perfect motivator and mood-booster

Anyone who lives in the UK will know how rare it is to see the sun shining. So, being able to enjoy a few hours at the beach on my lunch break, gave me that extra push I needed to complete a task or tick off things on my to-do list.

Stepping away from my computer also gave me the space and time to think. Some of my best ideas came whilst I was sunning myself on the beach… win-win! Something about the clear blue skies just instantly lifted my mood and sparked my creativity.

Move to a hot country, and the visitors will follow

As much as moving to a new country was exciting, at times I was homesick. It’s a natural feeling, especially with social media, and seeing your friends back home posting pictures together.

One thing that surprised me, however, was how many visitors I had out there. But now I think about it, Brits don’t need much persuading to get away for a few days in the sun! It was great to see some familiar faces – and tuck into some classic British sweets they brought over. Oh, how I’d missed those!

Good things take time

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Patience is a virtue. I could go on with the clichés… but genuinely good things do take time. Whether it’s good business, good friendships, good fitness, and so on. If you work hard, are committed, and put in the effort, you’ll see the results you want. With that said, it’s also important to be good to yourself. Trust that everything will work out how it’s meant to. Let go of the expectations and allow for something great to unfold.

One more for good luck…

And for whoever likes a 5pm cocktail. Spanish drink measures are strong, so go easy on those mojitos!