Moving abroad means leaving behind routines you didn't even realize you had. Your Saturday morning coffee spot, the grocery store where you know every aisle, the exact way you like your eggs at that diner down the street. These small things matter more than you'd think when you're building a new life overseas.
The good news? You don't have to recreate everything exactly as it was. You just need to find your own version of comfort in your new place. Here's what actually helps.
Find Your Regular Spots
You need places where people recognize you. A café where the server knows your order, a market vendor who saves the good tomatoes for you, a bench in the park where you read every morning. These anchors make a foreign city feel like yours.
Don't overthink it. Just start going to the same places consistently. Within a few weeks, you'll notice the difference between being a tourist and being a regular. That shift matters.
- Pick one café or bakery near your apartment and go there twice a week
- Shop at the same local market instead of rotating between stores
- Take the same walking route for your morning exercise
- Find a quiet spot for reading or people-watching and claim it
Bring (or Recreate) What You Can't Live Without
Some Americans pack an entire suitcase of peanut butter and ranch dressing. Others can't function without their morning ritual of a specific tea or their evening glass of bourbon on ice. Figure out what's actually important to you, not what you think should be important.
If you can't bring it with you, find the closest local version. Mexican coffee shops won't have your exact roast from home, but they'll have something you can learn to love. Portuguese grocery stores don't carry Kraft mac and cheese, but they've got their own comfort foods worth discovering.
Ship yourself a care package every few months with the non-perishables you actually miss. It's cheaper than you think and feels like Christmas morning when it arrives.
Keep Some Version of Your Old Routines
If you read the newspaper with breakfast every morning in the States, don't abandon that habit abroad. Switch to reading it on your phone or tablet if you need to. If you always watched Sunday football, find an expat bar that shows the games or stream them at home.
Your routines don't have to look exactly the same, but the rhythm matters. Morning walks, afternoon naps, evening phone calls with family back home—these patterns give your days structure when everything else feels unfamiliar.
Accept That Some Things Will Just Be Different
Thai pharmacies won't have your exact brand of ibuprofen. Slovenian restaurants won't make iced tea the way you like it. Italian espresso tastes nothing like American coffee. You can either spend your energy being frustrated about this, or you can adjust.
The expats who do best abroad are the ones who figure out what's worth holding onto and what's worth letting go. You don't have to love everything about your new country, but fighting against every small difference will exhaust you.
Ready for the next step?
Check out our country-specific guides to see exactly how to apply these steps in your dream destination.
Browse Country Guides
