Struggling to balance work and home in a foreign land?

Cultural Nuance: Understand Local Norms: Spend time learning about the local culture, particularly how work-life balance is perceived and practiced. Respect Cultural Differences: Adapt to the local customs and holidays, which might affect work schedules and home life differently than what you're accustomed to. Seek Local Advice: Engage with colleagues or neighbors who can provide insights on balancing work and personal life in the local context.

Time Management: Prioritize Tasks: Efficiently prioritize your tasks to manage work responsibilities without compromising your home life. Schedule Smartly: Use calendars and scheduling tools to manage your time effectively, ensuring you allocate time for both professional responsibilities and personal activities. Set Boundaries: Clearly define your work hours and communicate these to your colleagues to ensure they respect your personal time.

Local Networks: Build Support Systems: Create a network of local friends and expat communities who can provide support and advice based on their experiences. Participate in Community Activities: Get involved in local activities that can enhance your social life and help you feel more at home. Professional Associations: Join professional networks to connect with peers who can offer career advice and potentially help in achieving a better work-life balance.

Health First: Prioritize Wellbeing: Make your health a priority by maintaining a regular exercise routine and eating healthy, which can help manage stress. Access Local Healthcare: Familiarize yourself with the local healthcare system and ensure you have access to necessary medical services. Mental Health Resources: Seek out mental health resources if you're feeling overwhelmed, including counselors or support groups that cater to expats.

When moving to a new country, it can be very hard to keep your old routines going. It's taken me 2 years to regain some semblance of my old gym routine, and the biggest learning I've had is to take it one day at a time. Things a new country will work differently, and you'll need to be flexible & patient so that you can adapt. Ask colleagues and friends for advice on how things work, how best to do things, and don't be afraid to try something new - even if it's overwhelming, you're on your own, and it's in another language. You'll be surprised at how resilient you can be, and how proud you'll be when you survive that first gym class in another language. Your mental & physical health is important, so invest time in finding your new rhythm.

"Eating healthy food fills your body with energy and nutrients.Imagine your cells smiling back at you and saying: Thank you !"Karen Salmansohn, designer and self-help author. Home life: When you go to a foreign country, study the climate. Adjust your food choices according to the climate. Focus on eating protein. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Exercise regularly. A simple walk for 30 minutes after every meal keeps you healthy. Stay hydrated.Drink lots of water. Avoid carbonated beverages and cool drinks. Work life: Once you have adjusted your food choices, work becomes comparatively easy. Your body and mind will be active.Learning local language, culture and faith takes time. Make progress consistently.Stay connected to your community.

Tech to Connect: Stay Connected with Family: Use technology like video calls, instant messaging, and social media to stay connected with family and friends back home. Leverage Apps: Utilize apps that help manage your daily tasks and responsibilities, or those that help you navigate your new city more effectively. Remote Working Tools: If possible, use remote working tools to maintain flexibility in your work location, which can help balance sudden personal demands.

Reflect and Adapt: Evaluate Regularly: Regularly assess how well you're managing the balance between work and home and make adjustments as necessary. Be Flexible: Be open to changing strategies if certain approaches are not working, adapting to new information and experiences. Personal Growth: Embrace the learning opportunities that come with living abroad, which can enhance both your personal and professional life.

?? You might prioritise work over you when living abroad, and it's understandable Because you feel this pressure to work excellently: ? To not lose your visa ? To show your worth in the company ? To prove to people in your home country that you’re doing great But you know what? You can do both, 1?? excel in your work 2?? excel in your life HOW? by choosing to do so, by learning how to do so by exploring when doing so To me personally, coaching played a significant role in the process. It helped me to create this resilience and enabled me to thrive in both my personal and professional life.

Here’s what else to consider: Cultural Training: Engage in cultural training sessions if available, to deepen your understanding of local norms and improve your integration. Work Flexibility: Negotiate with your employer for flexible working hours or the possibility to work from home when needed to better manage personal commitments. Plan for Downtime: Make sure to plan for regular downtime that allows you to relax and recharge, keeping burnout at bay.