How to Resettle in the UK After Time Away
Sometimes, returning from abroad can be surprising. You might feel that the country isn’t quite as you remember it, or that you’re stuck between two different identities, and you can’t quite reconcile them.
Let’s take a look at a few key aspects of making this move and how you can give yourself the best possible chance of adjusting.
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Expect the Unexpected: Understanding Reverse Culture Shock
In some cases, this sense of dislocation is severe enough that it comes with its own name. ‘Reverse Culture Shock’ is a term used to describe the emotional and psychological pain you go through when you come back home after a spell abroad. It’s something that is felt more severely by some people than by others.
If you know that this sensation might be coming, then you’ll stand a better chance of dealing with it. Make sure that you give yourself a few weeks to make the adjustment and that you’re prepared to be surprised by how you react to people, places, and cultural norms that you once considered familiar.
Rebuild Your Routine One Step at a Time
If you don’t have a fixed sense of routine, then it’s easy to feel lost. This is particularly likely if you’re working from home or freelancing and thus free to set your own hours. Make sure that you structure your day rigidly, and that you build the right habits. Sit down at your desk at the same time every day, and make sure that you get up and go for a walk at the same time, too. Other, more occasional duties, like your grocery shop, might be performed at the same time each week.
By building the right routine, you’ll be able to support your mental wellbeing going forward.
Choose a Location That Matches the Life You Want to Build
What part of the UK are you going to live in?
Your choice should match your lifestyle and preferences, which might have shifted since you first moved abroad. It might be that you want to live at the heart of the action, in which case a new-build home in Camden, London, might be appropriate. Or, you might crave the quiet and tranquillity of rural life, in which case a remote cottage might better suit your preferences.
Reconnect with Your Local Community
Getting back up to speed with what’s going on in your local area might help you to avoid the sense that you’re out of the loop. After all, if everyone you speak to seems to know all about local goings-on, and you don’t, then it’s easy to feel that you’re missing out on something.
Involving yourself in local activities and visiting local events can be a great way to gradually reacquaint yourself with your surroundings and build back that all-important sense that you belong.
Navigating Practical Matters: Banking, Healthcare, and Driving
After you move back, you’ll have a number of administrative tasks to take care of. Compose a checklist, and move through everything so that you can move on with life. For example, you might need to advise the DVLA that you’re back on the road or register with a local GP or dentist.
Rebuild Your Social Circles (Without Overwhelming Yourself)
The chances are good that you’ll have old friends in the local area. It’s worth reaching out to them, but be sure that you do it gradually and that you don’t overwhelm yourself. Hobby-based groups and drop-in sessions at the local pub might be a great way to rebuild connections in a low-pressure environment.
Employment and Re-entry into the Workforce
The chances are that your experience overseas will make you an asset to would-be employers since it will give you a perspective that other candidates might lack. Update your CV to emphasise your travel experience. Getting into the job market might take some perseverance, so try to explore flexible options before you push yourself too hard.
Give Yourself Time: Settling Is a Process, Not a Deadline
Depending on the length of your stay overseas, you might require some time to adjust to your surroundings back in the UK. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get back to ‘normal’ too quickly, and make sure that any deadlines you set yourself are realistic and measurable. Caring for yourself, and forgiving yourself, can be essential if you’re going to adjust successfully!
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