The Waiting Phase Before Moving Abroad Is the Hardest

When we first decided to move to Spain, everything felt exciting and fast-moving. There were plans to make, decisions to finalize, and a clear sense of direction. But somewhere along the way, things slowed down. Paperwork, timelines, logistics—all of it created a space we didn’t fully expect.

And that space is where we are now.

The waiting to move abroad phase has turned out to be one of the hardest parts of this entire journey. It’s not the decision, and it’s not even the move itself. It’s this in-between stage where everything is set in motion, but nothing has actually changed yet.

Living Between Two Lives

One of the most difficult parts of waiting to move abroad is the feeling of being stuck between two versions of your life. You’re still physically in your current home, but mentally, you’ve already started to move on.

It creates a strange disconnect. Daily routines continue, but they don’t feel the same. Plans feel temporary. Even small decisions start to feel less important because you know change is coming.

Waiting to move abroad puts you in a place where you don’t fully belong to your current life anymore, but you haven’t stepped into your new one yet.

The Loss of Momentum

At the beginning of this journey, everything feels active. You’re researching, planning, organizing, and making progress. There’s a sense of control in that movement.

But the waiting to move abroad phase often slows everything down. Suddenly, you’re relying on timelines you can’t control. You’re waiting on approvals, documents, and steps that take longer than expected.

That loss of momentum can feel frustrating. You want to keep moving forward, but you’re forced to pause.

Overthinking Becomes Constant

When things slow down, your mind speeds up.

The waiting to move abroad phase creates space for overthinking in a way nothing else does. You start replaying decisions, questioning choices, and imagining every possible outcome.

Did we make the right decision?
Are we prepared enough?
What if something goes wrong?

These thoughts don’t necessarily mean anything is wrong—they’re just part of the uncertainty that comes with big life changes. But they can feel overwhelming if you let them take over.

It Feels Like Nothing Is Happening

Even though a lot is happening behind the scenes, waiting to move abroad can feel like standing still. You’re preparing for a major life change, but from the outside—and even sometimes from your own perspective—it can feel like nothing is moving.

That feeling can be discouraging. It can make you question your progress or feel like you’re stuck. But the truth is, this phase is part of the process.

Just because you can’t see the movement doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Emotional Highs and Lows

This stage brings a mix of emotions that can change quickly. One day you feel excited and ready. The next day you feel anxious or unsure.

Waiting to move abroad is filled with anticipation, but also with moments of doubt. You might feel impatient, then hopeful, then frustrated—all within a short period of time.

That emotional back-and-forth is completely normal. It’s part of preparing for something that will change your life in a big way.

Letting Go Before You Leave

Another challenge of waiting to move abroad is the emotional process of letting go. You haven’t left yet, but you’ve already started to detach from your current life.

You begin to notice things differently. Places feel more temporary. Moments feel more significant. There’s a quiet awareness that things are about to change.

Letting go doesn’t happen all at once. It happens slowly, during this waiting period.

Trying to Stay Present

One of the hardest parts of waiting to move abroad is staying present in your current life while preparing for your future one.

It’s easy to mentally fast-forward, to focus only on what’s coming next. But this time still matters. These moments still matter.

Finding a balance between preparing for the future and appreciating the present is not easy, but it’s important.

Trusting the Process

If there’s one thing I keep coming back to during this phase, it’s trust. Waiting to move abroad requires a level of patience that doesn’t always come naturally.

We don’t control every step of this journey. Some things take time. Some things unfold in ways we can’t predict.

According to research on patience and uncertainty, learning to tolerate uncertainty can actually build emotional strength and resilience. That’s something this phase is definitely teaching us.

Preparing in Ways That Matter

Even though it feels like waiting, there are still ways to prepare that go beyond logistics. This is a time to mentally and emotionally get ready for what’s ahead.

We’ve been talking more as a family about what we want this new life to look like. We’ve been thinking about routines, priorities, and how we want to show up in this next chapter.

Waiting to move abroad isn’t just about waiting—it’s about preparing in deeper ways.

Why This Phase Matters

As frustrating as it can be, I’m starting to see that this phase has a purpose. Waiting to move abroad gives us time to process, reflect, and fully step into the decision we’ve made.

It allows us to close one chapter thoughtfully before rushing into the next.

That doesn’t make it easy, but it does make it meaningful.

This Is Part of the Journey

The waiting to move abroad phase may not be the most exciting part of this experience, but it’s one of the most important.

It’s where patience is built.
It’s where clarity grows.
It’s where we begin to shift from one life to another.

And even though it feels slow, uncertain, and sometimes frustrating, it’s still movement.

Just not the kind you can always see.

And one day, when we finally arrive, I think we’ll look back at this phase and realize it prepared us more than we ever expected.