Have you ever had that quiet or maybe even an re-occurring thought of: “Maybe I don’t belong here anymore”? Maybe you have been brushing it off because it felt too big, too risky or not socially acceptable?
You’re not alone. For many expats and digital nomads, the journey didn’t begin with some amazing grand plan to set off half way around the world. It more often than not started with a slow burn of dissatisfaction. The feeling that something wasn’t quite right. That they were stuck with life was passing them by without any real sense of accomplishment or sanctification.
In this post, we’ll talk about the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that it might be time to make a move. Leaving your home country might just be the most freeing decision you ever make.
1. You Feel Like You’re Existing, Not Living
If your daily routine feels like you’re stuck in a loop on autopilot, with little joy or novelty, it might be more than just burnout. Many people describe their home lives as “numb.” Wake, work, pay bills, sleep.
Living abroad doesn’t magically solve your problems or without its own challenges , but it often shakes you out of that cycle. New environments bring new challenges, opportunities and rewards. Some of which force you to engage with the world again and not simply be a hidden cog in the machine. This active participation can help life start to feel real and meaningful again.
2. You’re Craving Freedom, and Not Just from Work
For some, the call to leave is about escaping the 9-to-5. For others, it’s deeper. A longing for freedom of thought, freedom from social pressures, oppressive authority or simply the weight and expectations of always having to “fit in.”
Living abroad often gives people permission to reinvent themselves. Away from the expectations of family, culture, or career norms allowing you to live differently and make your own path. More times than not you will also meet similar individuals abroad who value freedom and creativity.
3. Your Mental Health Is Struggling, and Staying Isn’t Helping
It’s not always depression or anxiety in the clinical sense. Sometimes, it’s just a low-grade constant sadness that never lifts of being somewhere. A feeling of being trapped. Of not knowing why you’re unhappy, only that you are.
This is one of the most common, and least talked about, reasons people leave and a dangerous trap some get caught in. Changing your surroundings won’t fix everything, but it can create space for you to heal. Especially if you’re moving to a culture that values work-life balance, nature, or community differently than what you’re used to.
In my personal case this was living in Melbourne, Australia which for a variety of reasons lead to a constant unshakable feel anxiety. After moving to Brisbane, and eventually overseas to Thailand this stress was almost immediately lifted of my shoulders.
4. You’re Tired of Playing It Safe
In many Western countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, there’s an unspoken rule. Take risks only when they’re calculated. Play it safe. Don’t rock the boat or cause changes that have any sort of disruption. How many times have we heard “Don’t touch it if it works” despite their being a smarter way?
But what if this ultra conservative safety culture is what’s holding you back? Many expats describe a turning point where the real risk became staying where they were in a dead end role with their hands tied in red tape. Frustratingly watching years slip by with nothing changing, unable to advance ideas, their career or pursue their own personal goals.
Moving abroad, especially to developing countries and around people who value progress over perfection, can feel like entering a world where bold decisions and rapid action are more important than cautious planning. In these environments, taking risks isn’t feared, it’s encouraged, and that shift in culture can be exactly what ambitious people need to finally move forward or feel at home.
5. Affordability Is Constantly Holding You Hostage
Let’s be honest. Many of us living in high-cost countries are living paycheck to paycheck where even basic comforts we once took for granted quite quickly becoming out of reach. Rent, healthcare, childcare, insurance, ever increasing taxes and that’s before adding a social life or saving for a house.
Moving abroad isn’t just about escaping that. It’s about gaining access to a different quality of life. In many parts of the world, your income stretches far further. You can work less hours, eat healthier food, do the things you enjoy and maybe even buying a house abroad.
So, When Is the “Right” Time?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But if your gut has been nudging you, and you’ve found yourself visiting blogs like this one or watching YouTube videos on the subject, the time may be sooner than you think.
One of the most common fears people have about leaving their country is being seen as “running away” from their problems instead of enduring them like everyone else. But try thinking of it differently. Not as running away, but as running toward something better. A life that feels more authentic, more adventurous, and more aligned with who you are or who you want to become.
It’s not always easy. But staying somewhere that no longer fits you is hard too, especially if, deep down, you’ve already checked out and want to be somewhere else. At some point, the harder choice might actually be staying put without losing your mind!
Final Words:
You don’t need a crisis or for everything to fall apart to justify your decision. Sometimes, a quiet sense of discontent is enough to start looking for something more. Life is too short to stay unhappy or stuck in a place that no longer feels right.
There are no guarantees the grass will be greener on the other side, but if you never try, you might always wonder what could have been. And if it doesn’t work out, you can always come back. What matters most is that you gave yourself the chance.