Transitioning Into A New Life
As I start my new life in another country, I thought I would take some time to share some of my thoughts and experiences, in case it can benefit or inspire anyone in a similar situation. I think some people might view moving to another country in the winter as an easy and romantic process (rose-tinted glasses syndrome!); hanging out by the beach, trying new cuisines, feeling like one big holiday... the short answer is, it's not really like that at all! The ups and downs are quite extreme, and getting into a new routine with some kind of structure around work, fitness and time to relax hasn't been easy.
Most people tend to forget that anyone who's self-employed works very hard. It can be non-stop when you're the driving force of a business, and there isn't usually a lot of time to switch off, however slowly, I starting to settle into my new work and fitness regime.
I literally left the UK with a 23kg suitcase and a 12kg small bag and what I have realised is this; honestly, we need very little. Clothes-wise, I wear similar things to what I wear in the UK. A few variations of jeans and combats, some dresses and lots of interchangeable tops. I bought 3 sets of bikinis and a few cover ups along with some sweatshirts (it can get quite chilly in the North!). My layers such as scarves and socks have been essential, as have my loungewear and products to help me relax when I'm at home or trying to get into work mode.
I felt it was important to have a base for when I'm not hosting my Taylor Made Travels events. These all happen in the north of India so I chose south Goa as my home, as I already have a community here and it was cheaper to rent a small studio for six months. This gave me somewhere to leave my cases whilst I travelled around the country and it really has because a great base. It's really important to have some of your own things around you, so you can really 'ground' in and become connected with your home and environment.
Interestingly, it's quite like living in Deal - Patnem is like a small village/town where everyone knows everyone. There's a real sense of community, but when it's time for me to head north, I find myself ready for a change of scenery and I love what the city has to offer.
My top tips for living a multi-base lifestyle are:
- Spend time researching what countries you are drawn to the most and go there on holiday a few times. Check out the vibe and which communities you resonate with. Initially, go for two/four weeks and make sure you surround yourself with the right crowd of people who enjoy the activities you love; whether it's fitness, yoga, self care, music, art etc.
- Keep your packing to an absolute minimum clothing-wise but take good toiletries, skin care products and sun-creams etc. You may struggle to find your favourites so make sure you take plenty of your go-to products.
- Make sure all your vaccinations are up-to-date. Remember, you're not in the UK where you can instantly access the NHS so be sensible and get organised. On a plus side however, dental work in places like India is amazing and around a third of the price, so that's something to consider.
- Come with an open mind and be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. Meeting new friends and starting conversations can fee daunting at first, but before you know it, you will have found a great new community of like minded souls.
- Finally, buy a VPN in advance which means you can access iPlayer and lots of other English channels on your iPad or laptop as this is your connection to home when you need a night of catching up!
If you need any other tips or would like some advice on your next chapter, please reach out via email or on social media @lisataylor_design.