4 Expat Mistakes I Wish I Knew Before Moving
Real‑life lessons from five years on the road.
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Does This Sound Familiar?
A full day feels productive.
You stock the fridge, crush a workout, text friends, clean the apartment, even write a task list. That night you sit on the couch tired and proud, until you check the the things that you actually should have done (for weeks).
The big project you wanted to build has not moved a bit. Some tasks keep life running while others push life forward. For years I missed that difference. This is just one of the mistakes I made, repeatedly.
The four mistakes below came from that blind spot and each of them hindered my growth.
Why Focus On High Impact Tasks Is Important
Living abroad magnifies every choice.
Rent is due in a new currency, visas carry deadlines, and your safety net sits an ocean away. When you spend energy on low‑impact tasks, the real goals like steady income, useful skills, local roots can stall fast.
I learned this the hard way. Each mistake on the list that follows cost extra fees, wasted months, or missed friendships. By seeing them now, you can shift effort to the few moves that give real progress and a calmer life overseas.
Mistake 1: Confusing Movement With Progress
Story
I once filled every hour. Morning workout. Grocery run. Zero inbox. A call with friends back home. A spotless apartment. I felt busy and alive.
That same week my main project sat untouched in a folder. Each small task gave an instant reward while the big task felt heavy, so I kept picking the light work and told myself I was “building momentum.”
Why This Does Not Work
Constant motion hides the real work. A clean apartment is nice, but it does not pay bills. After a while, confidence dips. Because the work you put of the big tasks, the bigger the task gets (even just starting it). After months of this pattern I had plenty of checked boxes and no product, clients, or income stream to show for them.
How To Fix It
Name the lever. Each morning write the one action that moves your main goal forward. Do it first, before chores.
Set a timer. Work on that action for a fixed block, even if the outcome feels rough. Output beats polish at this stage.
Review weekly. On Sunday list what you shipped: pages written, lines of code, pitches sent.
There is a great speech from Denzel Washington on this:
Mistake 2: Jumping On Too Many Ideas
Story
Some days your head explodes with new ideas.
One day it is a coffee‑delivery app. The next it’s travel blog. I myself bought domains, mocked up logos, wrote half a landing page, then went for the next shiny thing. None of these ideas reached real users.
The rush of “building” felt like work, so I skipped the one step that matters: asking someone to try the thing.
Why Too Many Ideas Do Not Work
Ideas pile up, but proof stays at zero. Money goes to domains and new tools. Energy fragments, so nothing crosses the finish line. After months, I had ten half‑built projects and no feedback to show what worked.
Fix it
Pick one question. What problem does the idea solve and for whom? Write it in one sentence.
Run a cheap test fast. Post a simple offer in a group, DM three people, or build a bare‑bones page that collects email interest. Aim for a test you can finish in two days.
Decide by numbers. If ten people see the offer, how many say yes or join the wait‑list? If the answer is none, tweak once, test again, then move on.
Mistake 3: Not Meeting New People
Story
My first months abroad felt amazing.
I joined every meet-up, said yes to random coffees, met new people daily. Then routine set in. Same co-working desk, same gym class, same Friday beers with the same three friends.
Six months later my circle looked like a mirror: all foreigners in my age bracket, all talking about the same problems and routines.
Why it hurts
A narrow circle limits ideas, referrals, and support. When everyone around you shares the same background, blind spots grow. Your social life lacks fresh energy.
Fix it
Weekly outreach rule. Schedule one new coffee or call every week. Treat it like a workout: non‑negotiable.
Host small gatherings. A dinner for four creates stronger bonds than a big meetup. Invite one familiar friend and two new faces.
Try new things. Language exchange, workshops, volunteer days. Go alone so you have to talk to strangers.
Track it. Keep a simple list of new contacts with a note on how you can help them. Review it monthly to keep connections alive.
Mistake 4: Staying In The Expat Bubble
Story
I mostly rent apartments in busy and trendy neighbourhoods. Also, I find the expat friendly cafés usually nicer than the local ones. Don’t get me wrong, I love those places, and I will always be there. But every now and then, it’s nice to have a simple chicken rice dish at the street corner, and connect with locals.
You are a guest in the country, and it’s usually super interesting to connect with locals. They are very curious for the most part, and are willing to share their culture. Connecting to other cultures widens your horizon, staying in the expat bubble only does this to a certain degree.
What You Can Gain From This
Cheap deals and insights from locals when it comes to e.g. food or rent
Language skills (usually the first thing you do is learn the swear words)
Cultural nuances, knowing those helps you navigate the country better
Friends, probably the most important part!
Fix it
Commit to language practice. Ten minutes with an app or tutor builds confidence fast.
Join one local club or class. Sports teams, cooking courses, or volunteer groups place you side by side with residents.
Replace one weekly meet-up with a local spot. Skip the expat bar on Thursday and try a neighbourhood eatery where you order in the local language.
What Do These Have In Common?
These four mistakes share one root cause: Scattered Focus.
I kept busy, chased many ideas, saw the same faces, and stuck to a comfort zone of other foreigners. Each choice felt fine on its own. Together they held me in place.
Clear progress abroad comes from the opposite pattern. Fewer goals, tested ideas, steady flow of new people, and real ties with locals. When I shifted toward that, each month showed real progress. Use these lessons to direct your time where it matters most and turn your move into real growth.
Quick Tips To Get Into Action Mode
Do the high‑leverage task first each morning
Test one idea at a time with ten real users
Schedule one new coffee chat every week
Spend one evening a week in a local‑only setting
If this helped, share the post with one friend who is planning a move.
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