Can Moving Abroad Make You Happier?

Before moving to Thailand in 2024, I remember thinking living in another country would somehow make my life more interesting.

More things to do.

Things to experience.

I imagined myself constantly exploring new places, eating amazing food, meeting new people. For lack of better words, feeling like I was on a permanent adventure.

And to be fair…

A lot of that did  happen.

I’ve ridden motorbikes through mountains, explored ancient temples, learned Thai (and a smattering of words in other languages), made friends from all over the world…

But what I eventually realized is that…

…novel things don’t stay novel forever.

I still have boring days.

The excitement of being abroad fades. The new becomes normal. You still wake up with the same mind and the same fears.

Everything slides back to normal.

And once it does, you’re left with the same question you had before you moved:

Am I happy with the life I’ve built here?

I think I am.

Granted, Thailand might not feel as magical as it did when I first arrived. The “newness” of it has long worn off.

And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Feeling settled somewhere means you don’t have to constantly re-adjust, learn new languages, or figure out how the trash gets picked up in a country where you can’t read the signs.

You know which restaurant is better. You know the shortcuts. How to not get ripped off. You know the lady at the coffee shop who smiles every time you walk in the door.

These small, ordinary details are what turn a place into a life.

You don’t get that from novelty.

Novelty wears off no matter where you are.

So, can moving abroad make you happier?

Not automatically.

And there’s a lot that goes into “happiness.”

But from my experience living abroad, I’ve learned that a new location can’t outrun your own mind. And it won’t permanently cure boredom.

But it does force you to make a conscious choice.

And I think THAT aspect of living abroad is what gives you the best chance of building a happier life.

Putting yourself in a situation that forces you to build your life more intentionally, rather than following what’s otherwise put in front of you.