In today’s global economy, moving internationally for work purposes is becoming increasingly more common. Whether it’s right over the border into a neighboring country or moving to the opposite side of the globe, it can be a stressful and disorganized time in your life. Here are some tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Copy and Scan Your Important Documents
Passports, rental agreements, copies of your travel tickets and itineraries, birth certificates, marriage certificates, drivers licenses and banking records should all be scanned and stored on a USB thumb drive. Also make physical copies and keep them in your hand luggage. Having backups of these essential documents will help you feel more at ease during the transition and can be a lifesaver if your originals are somehow lost, damaged or stolen.
Take the Opportunity to Declutter and Pare Down
When faced with the prospect of moving to another country and paying freight for every pound of possessions, clutter suddenly become less appealing. Embrace this attitude and take it as a motivator to pare down your belongings. If you’re moving with driving distance, it may make sense to take just about everything with you. If you’re moving across an ocean, there is no reason to take along huge or heavy items such as furniture or book collections unless the item has great monetary or sentimental value.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
International moving is hard enough without rushing yourself through the process. If at all possible, give yourself several days in your new home to unpack, get settled, align with local time and explore your new home town before you are expected to rush off to work. This is is especially important if you are moving into a completely foreign culture many time zones from your original location. Be kind to yourself and your body.
Don’t Do It All Alone
If at all possible, don’t try to do this enormous task all by yourself. Not only could you throw out your back, the emotional stress is also not good for you. Whether you enlist the help of international moving services in Toronto or just call all of your cousins and siblings for assistance, you will be glad you got help.
Moving abroad can be a stressful time. By keeping these tips in mind, you can make the transition as smoothly as possible and settle into your new place in comfort.
