Coping With Stress While Working Abroad

Living on your own in a foreign country? To overcome the challenges of cooking for one, a little planning and even just one weekly grocery trip can go a long way. Take some time each weekend to plan out one big dish to cook that can last all week and a few smaller, easy-to-make meals, then make an itemized grocery list. With a plan in place, you’ll lessen the chances of buying food that will just go to waste if you don’t use it.

Also, one of the best investments you can make in your new home is to stock your pantry with some staples right after you move in. Once you’ve got rice, cooking oil and basic seasonings like spices, vinegar and toyo, your weekly grocery list will be a lot smaller.

Being able to contact family and friends is important, according to JP, an IT Consultant who was based in Singapore for more than a decade before recently relocating to Australia. He says, “Take advantage of the latest communication technologies. With applications like Facetime, Skype, Whatsapp, and other instant messaging tools, talking with your loved ones long distance is easy, and even free."

Karen is an Accounting Analyst who has been living in Canada for the past three years. She shares, “The internet, specifically Facebook, helped me a lot in coping with stress. By keeping in touch with friends and family back home, I was able to minimize the feeling of homesickness, making it easier to adjust to the new environment."

As an Oil and Gas Quality Engineer, Dennis has lived in several countries for work. What worked for him was to fill his free time doing outreach work. He says, “To cope with homesickness, I participated in activities with charity organizations near my place of work." When he worked in Yokohama, Japan, he spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons volunteering in a feeding program for the homeless. "It kept me busy every weekend."

It doesn't hurt to ask for guidance from those who've been in the same situation as you. Karen adds, "It also helped that before making the move, I already knew some people who lived there, who helped teach me the basics like how to apply for IDs, search for a job, commute to work, and who helped familiarize me on the currency and customs.”

By its very nature, moving abroad necessitates getting out of your comfort zones. In order to do this, you must be willing to let go of things you have no control over. Now based back in Manila, Lovi* lived in the United Kingdom for seven years, where she worked in Marketing. She shares, “When I first moved abroad, the foremost thing I had to deal with was the culture shock. For example, people would eat lunch on their desks versus together with colleagues. It was also rare for colleagues to mingle with each other after work. This made it difficult to establish a social circle."

Lovi had to find ways to meet people outside of her work environment. "I had to actively and purposefully seek ‘meet ups’ to make new friends," she says. "I also became a member of a Filipino organization based in London.”

For JP, he only needed to engage in his interests to meet people. He got involved with groups and organizations that interested him. "It’s a great way to meet people," says JP. "Remember to explore, visit place you’ve never been to, try the local cuisine, and most importantly, have fun!”

Wellness plays a major factor in being able to cope with stress. Staying healthy physically will help you be mentally fit and in a positive state of mind, making it easier to adjust to new environments, people, and situations. Studies show that exercise is very effective in reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and in enhancing overall cognitive function.

"When I worked in South Korea, I also tried learning new sports. I joined a hiking club and we took trips to mountains on weekends," says Dennis. He not only gained new friends in this new pursuit, he was also able to improve his health. "To cope with pressures at work, I always stayed positive and kept my focus regardless of the circumstances... I also made sure to take time out for mini breaks or short vacations.”

Doing activities such as walking, biking, yoga, or any other sport that allow you to de-stress will also produce endorphins that help the body relax, therefore reduce stress. Complementing this with eating regular and balanced meals, keeping yourself well hydrated throughout the day, cultivating regular habits and routines, plus, making sure to get enough sleep and rest will also help keep one mentally fit.

Having the security that one is protected financially for unforeseen eventualities will also help to decrease stress. BPI AIA's Wellness Series offers the Life Ready Plus, a unit-linked life insurance plan that gives you protection, plus motivation and rewards to live healthier. With Life Ready Plus, you can get life insurance coverage and financial protection at budget-friendly payment terms. It also offers exclusive member privileges with AIA Vitality, a program that rewards you with upfront additional insurance coverage and discounts from partners for living a healty lifestyle.

Getting a job abroad is a dream come true and a career booster for many. Learning to deal with stress-causing challenges and changes that come with it is vital if one is to make the most out of the experience.

To find out more about financial protection with wellness solutions, talk to a BPI Bancassurance Sales Executive or visit BPI AIA Wellness Series.