🎒 Back From Working Abroad? Here's How to Handle the Return

Coming home after working abroad can feel strange. You’ve spent weeks or months living a completely different life — meeting new people, seeing new places, maybe learning new things about yourself.

Here’s some honest advice for handling that weird post-season feeling:

🕳️ The Post-Trip Slump Is Real

Don’t be surprised if things feel a bit flat. After the pace, people and constant stimulation of working abroad, normal life can seem dull. That’s normal. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong — it just takes time to adjust.

Give yourself space to decompress and don’t expect to feel “back to normal” straight away.

🗣️ Not Everyone Will Get It

You might have had a life-changing experience, but that doesn’t mean everyone at home will be dying to hear about it. Some will be interested. Others won’t and politely move on.

That’s okay. The experience is still yours, even if you can’t fully explain it to anyone else.

💼 What’s Next?

You don’t need to have your entire life plan sorted just because your season’s over. That said, it can be helpful to take stock:

• Do you want to go abroad again next year?

• Did the job show you what you don’t want to do?

• Have your priorities changed?

Start looking ahead, but don’t rush anything. Some of the best ideas come once you’ve had time to reflect.

💸 Watch the Spending

You might’ve come back with cash — or not. Either way, the temptation to celebrate being home is strong. Nights out, takeaways, shopping… it adds up.

Be a bit careful, especially if you’re not working yet. Your future self will thank you.

🧠 Stay in Touch

If you made good mates while working abroad, don’t lose touch just because the season’s ended. Drop a message, plan a reunion, or just check in. Those are the people who actually get what you’ve just been through.

✅ Final Thought

Coming home after working abroad is a transition, not a full stop. If it feels weird — that’s because it is a bit weird. Let yourself feel it, take your time, and know that whatever you do next, you’ve already done something most people never will.