As overseas workers in Australia, adjusting to a new job and a new culture simultaneously can be challenging. Furthering your career abroad is a dream come true for most, but there are challenges involved and it can be easy to get overwhelmed trying to learn so many things at once.
That’s why having a healthy work-life balance is especially important when working in a foreign country.
If you find yourself feeling stressed, fatigued, mentally drained or underperforming at work, you may want to try using some of our work-life balance tips for overseas workers. This will not only improve your work performance but your overall happiness, too.
Understanding Work-Life Balance in a Foreign Country
Cultural Differences in Work Expectations
Work culture varies from job to job. So when you begin your new job in your new country, expect the culture shock to extend to the workplace. There may be different customs, workplace etiquette, and expectations for you to learn.
For example, in Australia, we tend to prioritise a healthy work-life balance with annual leave entitlements ranking relatively high among other developed countries. Australians place value on leisure time and many employers will have incentives for employees to get involved in extracurriculars such as volunteering.
Adapting to a New Environment
Adjusting to a new working environment is difficult enough. Add in a new living environment and a new country and it’s easy to see why adapting can often be the most challenging part. It may take a while before your new home feels like home so allow yourself time to adjust and work on getting into a consistent routine.
Try to make time for your interests and hobbies. These are going to be your best coping mechanisms for managing homesickness in your first few months. Keep regular contact with your friends and family back home, relationships need to be nurtured no matter the distance.
Practical Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance Abroad
Setting Clear Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life
It’s a common trap for overseas foreign workers to arrive at their new job and immediately want to impress. This desire to achieve a lot in a relatively short amount of time can quickly lead to burnout.
Remember that you’re here for a reason. Your employer selected you specifically, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase your talents. In the meantime, figure out which tasks need priority and set clear boundaries between work and personal time.
Try setting strict start and work times and avoid working outside of the established work hours unless absolutely necessary. Outside of work, you should set time aside for hobbies and make sure you’re getting enough rest.
H3: Leveraging Technology for Better Time Management
An underrated life hack is using technology to optimise your workflow. This is true in any working environment but especially for overseas workers.
A simple task manager tool will visually display your day, week, or month. On your task manager, you can add meetings, set deadlines, organise your tasks, and improve your time management.
Staying Connected with Loved Ones
Your family is your base for emotional support and it’s important to maintain these relationships while you are away. Make time for regular phone calls, video calls, and try to plan visits to keep these relationships alive.
It’s also equally as important to build new relationships and establish a support system in your new home. Connect with peers both inside and outside of work, participate in social activities, join clubs, and attend events to meet new people.
The people you meet will shape your experience abroad, so be sure to make time for new friends!
Maintaining Physical and Mental Well-being
Exercise Regularly
Physical and mental health often go hand in hand, with regular physical activity being linked to stress reduction.
Try to exercise regularly and incorporate working out into your weekly routine to keep your physical health intact. Exercise comes in many forms and any activity you enjoy will do. Try activities such as walking, running, tennis, yoga, indoor climbing, or HIIIT.
Prioritising Mental Health
As we said before, adjusting to a new job, culture, and lifestyle all at once can be overwhelming. The stress and anxiety involved with working overseas can lead to burnout. Prioritising your mental health will be extremely important when making this lifestyle change.
Balancing work with rest, physical exercise, hobbies, and other activities you enjoy is the best way to look after your mental health. You can also try practising mindfulness and seeking professional help if needed.
Accessing Healthcare and Support Services
Sometimes you inevitably fall behind, despite your best efforts. This is completely understandable and the best thing you can do in this situation is reach out for support.
A mental health professional can give you advice, guidance, and strategies to help you manage your mental health. To access healthcare and support services in Australia, you’ll need to have overseas workers health cover – which is also a condition of your visa.
Balancing Work Commitments with Exploring Australia
Making Time for Travel and Leisure
Don’t let your work life overshadow the fact that you’re in a new country that you’ve explored zero per cent of. Use some of your annual leave to explore Australia during your time here. This country has a lot to see and it would be a shame to miss out on all Australia has to offer.
You can also use your leave time wisely and plan shorter trips around the weekends and public holidays. You can combine annual leave, weekends, and public holidays to get the most of your time off.
Building a Social Network
Creating your own friend group is among the most important things you’ll do while working overseas. Our friends are the ones we share memories with, laugh with, and grow with. They are the ones who are there for us at our lowest points and cheering us on during our greatest accomplishments.
Making friends in a new country can be hard, though. To meet new people, you can attend social events, cultural events, join local communities, and try new activities. There are millions of friendly individuals to meet in Australia, go find your people.
Embracing The Local Culture
Being open-minded can enhance your experience abroad in ways you wouldn’t have even imagined. Immerse yourself in Australian culture by visiting museums, trying Australian cuisine, learning Aboriginal history, and attending cultural events in your area.
Overcoming Common Work-Life Balance Challenges
Dealing with Work Stress and Pressure
As crazy as it sounds, stress in the workplace is normal. Oftentimes, it is more a matter of organisation and management than it is a tangible fear.
Leveraging technology can make your life easier, with task management tools being a godsend for optimising your workflow. You should hopefully feel comfortable enough to seek support from your colleagues when you’re feeling overwhelmed, as communication between coworkers is imperative for success.
Be sure to keep your goals realistic and don’t take on too much work too soon. You’re no good to anyone if you’re stressed, remember this and try to take care of yourself.
Coping with Loneliness and Isolation
It’s normal to feel lonely at first. After all, you just put your entire life in suitcases and moved to a different country. Combat this isolation and loneliness by getting out there and meeting new people.
Try joining groups that sound interesting and look specifically at groups for ex-pats.
Navigating Career Progression While Abroad
You should never lose sight of your goals. Although you’re abroad, you still have career aspirations that you should be working towards.
Don’t forget to learn new skills, network, and seek out mentorship opportunities. Attend workshops, courses, industry events, get a certification, and use LinkedIn to advance in your field.
Remember, you can still be driven about career progression while also setting boundaries to protect your work-life balance.
Striking the Right Balance for a Fulfilling Experience
As a new employee in a new working environment and country, you’ll be expected to learn a lot in a relatively short amount of time. It’s normal to feel lonely and stressed at first, but a healthy work-life balance will help you manage the pressure while you adjust to your new surroundings.
Keep the tips we’ve outlined above handy and refer to them during your time in Australia to make the most of your time here. Make sure you have the support you need during your time in Australia with OHVC Insurance.
