Do you want to move abroad with your family?

We did it, and you can too!

Proper planning is key. Here’s how we got started.

Map Your Plan

This is the first step to a successful move abroad. Without a plan, it is so easy to talk yourself out of embracing adventure. It is incredibly convenient to let worry and doubt creep into your mind. It’s almost like we’re wired towards an unfounded fear of the unknown. Call it instinct. Call it human nature. I call it inconvenient!

Visibility

Make your plan visible. Leave some room for improvement but set it out before you in some meaningful way. Having something tangible that you can see and touch will enhance clarity around the dream and will increase your focus towards making that dream a reality.

Make-it-Happen Board

One way to set your plan is by creating a make-it-happen-board (a kissing-cousin of the ever popular vision board). Now, a make-it-happen-board can be done in a variety of ways. For some, cutting and pasting magazine and newspaper clippings works best. The creativity is a form of therapy and a positive release of energy. For others, a series of words on a blank background will suffice. Still for some, a very crisp, clear, organized spreadsheet or infographic created on a computer is the best method.

Personally, I am not artistic (nor particularly tech savvy) and I find cutting, pasting and computer formatting to be a chore. So, as we prepared to move, I found it easier to keep a journal about my goals, desires and detailed plans with a simple pen and an inspired little purse sized journal. I created lists, set dates and gave myself achievable goals with deadlines. Whatever method works best for you, create a tangible representation of what you desire for yourself.

Be Specific

This is not your dreamy, everything-is-rainbows-and-kittens-vision-board. This board is active. It has a life and a purpose. This board will help you make it happen. This is the board that is going to get you where you want to go. Make this project do work for you. Be clear and specific. Rather than saying, “I want to live on the beach someday,” be intentional.  I prefer this, “By July 2017, I want to live in a two-bedroom home, with an ocean view of the beach in Puerto Vallarta, MX.” See the difference?

Choose photos and words that represent these exact goals. This specificity will help bring your precise vision to life. My journal served as a source of inspiration as well as a dose of reality. In it, I calculated and set a monthly budget for the household. I wrote down leads on everything. I noted budget airlines, visa requirements, health insurance options and educational choices for the kiddos. This preliminary research was helpful in preparing for a comfortable and easy transition for all of us. Even now, I continue to add to my journal as I learn more and explore our new surroundings.

Embrace Fear

Don’t allow giving yourself deadlines, budgets or being location-specific scare you. Without it, time will pass and you will find yourself still sitting with the ignition in neutral. A fierce sense of urgency, created by setting firm deadlines lit a fire under me. I wanted to start a new life and we did! You can move abroad with your family if you plan accordingly. It can be done. Remember, we did it!

While browsing the interwebs, I found some great resources for how to build and why you should build a make-it-happen-board that you can easily adapt to suit your dream and style. Check out these ideas and let me know what you think in the comments!

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Vision-Board

http://makeavisionboard.com/what-is-a-vision-board/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-c-walton-lpc/7-reasons-why-you-need-to-create-a-vision-board-in-2016_b_8900750.html

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