10 Tips to Make Moving Home After Travel Easier!

For many of us, when we set off on that much-anticipated long-term travel or big move abroad we are focused on the adventures ahead and not the other end of the story – moving home after travel. Coming home you might not have that same excitement as when you left but the life change is just as immense.

In 2017 I returned to New Zealand after four years of travelling and living overseas. I discovered that back settling into life at home can be a difficult transition – in fact it can be even more difficult than when you left. As a traveller you become accustom to a certain lifestyle, one where nothing feels completely permanent and the idea of staying in one place is terrifying. For myself, the first year wasn’t always easy but I have found ways to help me adjust that might help some of you moving home after travel.

So read on below for my top 10 tips to make moving home after travel easier!

10 Tips to Make Moving Home After Travel Easier

Table of Contents

Look at your home country or city with new eyes – be a tourist!

Treat your home city or country like somewhere you’ve never visited. It can become easy to get so caught up in everyday life that we don’t take notice of what’s around us. Remember how you felt when arriving in a new place? Try to emulate that back home by opening your eyes and really taking in your surroundings – you might surprised!

Depending on how long you’ve been gone this may be easier. I was away four years and during that time my own hometown went through quite the change. I’ve had a great time rediscovering my city! It’s funny, because a lot of my friends and family haven’t noticed or appreciated the changes quite as much.

As I mentioned above, it’s easy to get caught up in day to day living and routines. To combat this take the time to research as if you were just visiting – you might discover an epic new location or delicious cafe you never knew about before.

Explore more

While living overseas basically everybody I met (slight exaggeration) had been to New Zealand – they would often tell me how beautiful New Zealand was and ask if I had been to X, Y or Z. Sadly I hadn’t visited many of those places myself, so upon moving back I made it my mission to get out and explore more of the country.

Whether it’s going to an area of your city that you’ve never been or taking a road-trip to another part of the country, make an effort to get out and explore what your own country has to offer – you might be shocked with what you discover.

Declutter

Remember that feeling when all your worldly possessions fit into a backpack or suitcase? That carefree sense of freedom. It’s possible to have that feeling at home too. When you first arrive home it’s likely you won’t hold the same sentiment for items you once loved dearly – making this the perfect time to declutter and clear out everything you left behind and forgot about.

Basically as soon as I got home my room and wardrobe received a massive clean up (I’m not even kidding, it really was the first thing I did, after reuniting and cuddling with my dog that is). There were so many things I had left behind four years earlier that I had honestly forgotten about – and certainly didn’t miss. Travelling shows you how little you really need to get by, so now is the perfect time to be ruthless and get rid of those extra material belongings you have lying around. It might seem extreme but you will feel better for it.

Plus, if you’re like me you will have a few trinkets from your travels that need space in your home!

People change – but that doesn’t mean you have to stop being friends

Travel and time away changes you, and I’m sure many of your friends have changed while you’ve been gone too. But just because you feel like different people now doesn’t mean the old friendship is a write-off. You might find that while your previous common interests have changed there will be new things to bond over. Plus I’m sure you have PLENTY to catch up on.

I’m always reading other blogs or articles where returned expats and travellers talk about how they can’t connect with their old friends when moving home after travel. But really, it just requires openness from both sides to understand the ‘new’ friendship and ways you’ve both changed. I’ve managed to reconnect with many of my hometown friends – the friendship is slightly different than before but we have just as much fun!

One thing to remember though, try not to constantly talk about your travels – it can get boring quickly for people who aren’t as interested in travel. Start a travel blog instead, then you can write about it as much as you like and they can choose to read it or not.

Reach out and connect with new people

For some reason, it’s harder to make friends in your hometown than when you’re out on the road. When moving to London I didn’t know anyone, but I made the effort to find friends. Going against what my parents always told me (don’t talk to internet strangers), social media quickly became my favourite way of doing this. I wasn’t embarrassed to send someone a message on Instagram or Twitter and ask if they wanted to meet up for coffee – and luckily for me I never met any serial killers and actually made some of best friends this way.

You might feel a little weird about doing this when you’re home, but don’t. Even if you live in a smaller place it’s likely you won’t know everyone (even if you feel like you do) so who knows what friends are out there waiting for you.

If you would rather meet people IRL you just need to step out of your normal comfort zone. Join a club or sports team, attend networking events or just start up conversations with people you come across in your everyday life – just try to avoid coming across too creepy with that last one haha.

Make the most of your ‘free-time’

When you get home you might find yourself with more time on your hands than you’re use to. Make the most of this while you can, enjoy the fact that you can sit back and watch Netflix for an entire Sunday afternoon without worrying that you’re missing out on seeing that once-in-a-lifetime tourist attraction, sampling delicious local cuisines or hanging out with your new hostel mates.

Maybe there’s something you never got the time to do while you were overseas like reading, taking a class or starting a blog. Now is your chance to start, or just your chance to binge watch all those shows you’ve been missing out on. You do you.

Start a new project that makes you excited

This tip goes hand in hand with the one above. You’ve got the time now so get stuck in and really dedicate yourself to an exciting project. This will also help to keep you focused and give you a direction at a time you may feel lacking in these areas.

For me that’s this blog, but it might look completely different to you. Learn a new language, train for a marathon (or just a 5k), start a business, write a book… the list goes on. Whatever it might be, make sure your passionate about so it doesn’t become a daily drag in your life.

Take this time to focus on your career/future life goals

That travelling lifestyle can make focusing on your career or long-term goals challenging. If this is something you want, now is a good time to dig a little deeper in this area.

I left New Zealand in 2014 as a recent graduate and since I was so eager to hit the road my degree wasn’t really put to good use – until my return last year. I was fortunate enough to move back in with my parents and therefore didn’t have the same concerns of landing the first job I could find in order to pay rent etc. Because I was able to really dedicate myself to searching and preparing for a job I managed to land a role in marketing for an exciting and fun company.

Even if you’re not in the same situation as myself, knowing you have a more settled lifestyle gives you that ability to focus a little more on your career (if that’s something you want).

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Enjoy time with family

This one is easy. One of the hardest things about being an expat or long-term traveller is that you’re always so far away from family. Skyping my parents was a weekly occurrence while I was away, but it’s never quite the same as being there in person. Being home means you get to see your family regularly, attend all those family gatherings you missed out on and just generally get to enjoy time with them.

Take this time to make the most of it!

Plan the next adventure!

While many people return home and are happy to stay put, some of us spend our days dreaming of the next flight back out. If you’re really struggling it can be a good idea to start planning the next adventure! Even if it’s not possible to head off straight away, planning (and saving) for your next trip can help you settle that wandering mind. Although this might seem counter-intuitive, having an idea of when and where you’ll next be heading off can make that time at home feel less stagnant.

It might be six months or a couple of years before you can leave, but think of the amazing trip you could plan and save for in that time.