The Hardest Part of Waiting to Move Abroad That No One Talks About

When we first decided to move abroad, everything felt exciting and full of possibilities. We were making plans, dreaming about our future, and taking real steps toward a new life. But what I didn’t expect was how difficult this waiting period would be. The stress before moving abroad doesn’t hit all at once. It builds slowly during this in-between phase, where nothing feels settled. We are no longer fully rooted in our current life, but we are not yet living our new one either. That space in the middle can feel uncomfortable, uncertain, and emotionally draining in ways I never anticipated.

Why Waiting Feels So Much Harder Than Doing

You would think the hardest part would be the paperwork or the logistics, but honestly, it’s the waiting. When you are actively doing something, you feel a sense of progress and control. But when you are waiting on approvals, timelines, and responses, there is nothing to do but sit with your thoughts. That’s where the stress before moving abroad really starts to take hold. Every day feels like it should bring news, but most days don’t. That lack of movement can make you feel stuck, even though you know big changes are coming.

Living Between Two Lives at Once

One of the strangest parts of this process is feeling like we are living in two different worlds at the same time. Physically, we are still here, going through our daily routines, but mentally, we are already in Spain. I find myself thinking about what our life will look like, where we will go, and how different everything will be. At the same time, I am still doing everyday things here, knowing they are temporary. That split creates a constant tension, and it adds another layer to the stress before moving abroad that is hard to explain unless you are going through it.

The Emotional Weight of Big Change

Even when you are confident in your decision, change is still emotional. We know this move is right for our family, but that doesn’t mean it comes without questions or moments of doubt. I have caught myself wondering if everything will work out the way we hope or how this will affect our kids long term. These thoughts are not signs of regret—they are part of caring deeply about the life we are building. The stress before moving abroad is often tied to how much this decision matters, and that emotional weight can feel heavy at times.

Letting Go Happens Slowly

I used to think leaving would feel like one big moment, but it doesn’t. It happens little by little. You start to notice things differently—your home, your routines, even simple places you visit all the time. There is a quiet awareness that these moments are limited, and that realization can be both beautiful and difficult. This slow process of letting go adds another dimension to the stress before moving abroad because it stretches the emotional experience over time instead of just one goodbye.

The Lack of Control Is the Hardest Part

If I had to name the most difficult part of this entire phase, it would be the lack of control. So much of this journey depends on things outside of our hands. We are waiting on decisions, approvals, and timelines that we cannot speed up no matter how much we want to. That feeling of being at the mercy of the process can be frustrating and overwhelming. It is one of the biggest contributors to the stress before moving abroad because it forces you to sit in uncertainty without being able to fix it.

What Has Helped Me Manage the Stress

Over time, I have realized that I cannot eliminate the stress before moving abroad, but I can manage how I respond to it. One of the biggest things that has helped me is focusing on what I can control instead of what I cannot. There are still things we can do to prepare, whether it is organizing documents, making plans, or having important conversations as a family. Taking action, even in small ways, helps shift my mindset from feeling stuck to feeling prepared.

Staying Present While Preparing for the Future

It is easy to get so focused on the future that you forget to fully experience the present. I have had to remind myself that this time still matters. These are our last months here, and that is something I do not want to rush through. Being present has helped reduce the stress before moving abroad because it brings me back to what is real right now instead of constantly worrying about what comes next. This chapter is part of our story, not just something to get through.

Understanding That This Stress Is Normal

At one point, I started wondering if feeling this way meant something was wrong. But the more I looked into it, the more I realized that this is a completely normal response to a major life change. According to Psychology Today, big transitions naturally bring emotional highs and lows. That perspective helped me see that the stress before moving abroad is not something to fear—it is something to understand. It means we are in the middle of something meaningful.

This Is Not the End—It Is the Beginning

As hard as this waiting period can be, I keep reminding myself that it is temporary. This is not where our story ends. It is simply the space between where we have been and where we are going. The stress before moving abroad is part of the process, but it is also a sign that something big is happening. One day soon, the waiting will be over, and this phase will become something we look back on as part of our journey.

Until then, we keep preparing, we keep moving forward, and we trust that everything we are feeling right now is leading us exactly where we are meant to go.