Moving Abroad Always Seems Impossible till it’s Done.

Here’s how you can stay motivated

Whenever I talk about leaving the UK to people, I’ve found that many people who also want to leave struggle with committing to a firm goal. Part of this comes with the territory of migration — it is a huge step, after all! However, it’s also because many people get so anxious at the thought of committing it leads to analysis paralysis. Then they can’t move forward.

Committing to a lofty goal is a huge step, so allow me to help break it down, using myself as an example.

My lofty migration goal.

I’ve given myself the goal to be in a position to leave my country of origin (the UK) — if not already out — by the end of 2024. It’s a lofty goal, especially given my circumstances. The odds are stacked against me in many ways — especially given the current state of the UK — but this is a goal I’m firmly committed to.

Small steps are more than just practical

Setting goals to leave means boosting yourself mentally and physically as well as taking practical steps. Mentally adjusting to the ideas and realities of moving is one step, alongside building up mental health and peer support in your chosen destination country before your arrival.

Practising international travel trips (as I have done) also helps as it familiarises you with the kinds of processes and challenges, you’ll face but on a short-term basis. It’ll give you a perfect opportunity to debrief after each trip so you can make future travel and time abroad easier. This is why, while you can increase your savings and build your career, it isn’t enough on its own.

That said, breaking your goal into smaller steps also helps, hence this cannot be ignored. Don’t worry about things like the practicalities of moving yet, focus on the overall picture (without necessarily making plans yet). This can make it easier.

The steps I need to take include:

• saving up the money I’ll need to qualify for a youth mobility visa.
• organise a way out to a suitable destination.
• build up passive income streams to help me stay afloat, like Medium!
• build up more experience travelling in a world that looks very different to when the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic started (hence why I did this)

Accountability is so important.

Another thing I recommend is telling some of your chosen friends and family! They may not always understand, but it brings an important element of accountability. Not only can your friends hold you to account directly, but it also puts some pressure on yourself to work towards these goals. After all, if you can’t meet your goals, what would your friends think if they asked you how it was going and they had nothing to show for it?

Visualising what your life will be like once you meet your goals greatly helps.

Immersing yourself in this scenario enables you to start formulating how to turn your goals into reality. What will you be able to do once you’re abroad that you cannot do here? What might your daily routine be like? How would your life practically be better?

These and other prompts can help build the mental image you can take into the real world and use as a tool to motivate you to keep going — even when it seems like you’re making no progress whatsoever. I hope by the end of 2024, I’ll have met my goals or be very close to doing so. Visualising how happy and motivated I’ll be by this point is among the biggest things keeping me going.

It’s OK for things to change.

Life happens. Goals that were achievable at the time may not be anymore, especially if you’re hit with things like sudden illness, changing your destination country or having to spend some of your savings on essentials. That is OK. If you’re unable to meet your original deadline, you have not failed. It’s part of the nature of setting these longer-term goals. Hence adding some level of flexibility.

It’s also OK if systematic barriers prevent you from being able to leave.

I must point this out because I know if I don’t, this article will be another form of toxic positivity that ignores structural barriers. For example, many disabled people cannot physically or mentally handle such moves, so cannot migrate even if they want to, so leaving isn’t an option.

For anyone who cannot work due to caring responsibilities, that is also OK. Self- Part of setting goals is knowing what is genuinely possible to achieve in a world that isn’t made for you.

Final thoughts

“It’s always impossible till it’s done” has been a philosophy since the dawn of time. After all, many progressive, positive changes wouldn’t have happened without people. This ranges from major political campaigns like Suffragettes and climate activism, right the way down to personal goals like leaving the country. I definitely recommend taking this to heart.

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