7 Tips For Juggling A Portable Career With Your Household Abroad
Rhiannon Davies
According to a recent Gallup poll, which interviewed over 400,000 adults from 146 countries housing more than 93% of the world's adult population, almost 630 million people in the world would move abroad if they had the chance.
For most of us who are expatriates already, the lure of migration is understandable. The prospects potentially available to us on many levels are just so much of a draw, that moving abroad is a must. From enhanced economic stability to faster career progression, from an improved lifestyle for all the family to a better work/life balance – all seem achievable from a move abroad. Of course, the reality can sometimes be less than the dream, but living in another country and experiencing another culture usually always provides some positive benefits.
However, for women who want to relocate, or who are accompanying a relocating partner, two common issues that can be a barrier to a better life abroad are:
(a) Potentially having to give up a much loved career; and
(b) Working hard to integrate whilst assisting the entire family with their own integration.
For women who want to remain in the workplace, and who want to continue to develop their career and earn an income whilst living overseas, establishing a portable career can be the solution. And for such women, an absolutely disciplined approach to time management is key to juggling their portable career and their household abroad.
What Is A Portable Career?
The simplest definition of a portable career is one that you can take with you, no matter where in the world you choose to live. Therefore, naturally a portable career makes maximum sense for any woman who wants or needs to live abroad.
Traditionally, (pre invention of the Internet and the concept of ‘globalisation'), a portable career was restricted to employment sectors universally required (for example, jobs in the education and medical professions). But nowadays there can be portability in many more careers, thanks to the likes of email, Skype, virtual offices, the increased acceptance of telecommuting and remote consultancy services for example.
Some very fortunate women are in the position that they can remain employed by their current company and in their current role when they move abroad. This is certainly the most advantageous position an expatriating woman can find herself in – therefore this may be the best place you can start too (namely, selling the benefits of portability to your current boss).
However, if your current boss is not sold on the idea, or yours is just not a job that will travel well, here are some ideas of portable careers that you could consider to enable you to move abroad and continue to earn an income – and enjoy the real benefits that come from employment and career progression.
Portable Career Ideas
From dive instructor to photographer, from writer to consultant – all are portable career ideas. You could work as a life coach, a counsellor, an estate agent, a nanny, a web developer, a graphic designer, or any number of professions abroad. You could start your own business selling products or services via the Internet, you could freelance, or teach – the list is almost endless.
Start by thinking about the skills you have, the things you like doing or are particularly good at, and see if they lead you towards an idea for a new career. Alternatively, start thinking about the skills or services that may be in demand and that you could supply.
Starting a new career is never an easy option; however, if you take the time now and invest it in researching and determining what you could conceivably do – no matter where in the world life takes you – you will be wisely using your time to enhance your long-term happiness and personal fulfilment.
Tips For Juggling A Portable Career With Your Household Abroad
1.
Always be one step ahead of life: If you have no idea what your next working day will have in store for you, and you enter your workspace with no forward planning having been done, (if only in your mind), you will waste precious time trying to get organised each day. So, before you shut down your computer, or close the literal or imaginary door on your working day, spend at least a few minutes thinking about what you will need to achieve at home and at work tomorrow. This tiny bit of daily discipline saves me at least 2 hours a day!
2.
The calendar rules: One centrally placed calendar in the home with everyone's appointments, schedules, essential activities and expectations, is a great way to keep the household running smoothly and not miss any important activities. If it is not on the calendar it does not happen. This rule also helps children take greater responsibility for their tasks and activities, because they have to remember them long enough to ensure they are written down. It also teaches everyone about scheduling, time management and being less selfish when planning personal activities. It also means you do not have to remember everything, you can just check the calendar to see where your time demands are for the coming week and schedule your work around them. I could not operate without my family calendar!
3.
Housework can be shared and/or ignored: Housework is a chore that few working parents relish, and if you are like I used to be, you will perhaps think you have to do it all, all the time. Wrong. Furthermore, what is your hourly rate, and how many hours do you spend on the housework each week? Would it not be more time and cost effective to hire help for some tasks, if necessary? If that is not an option, you need to know that housework does not have to all be done at once on a precious day off. Rather, take on a single task a day and you will keep your home tidy and create plenty of spare time. Remember, you do not have to be a superwoman. Give yourself a break.
4.
Get up with the alarm: In my household, as I switch the alarm off, I am already getting out of bed. As painful as that can be some days, I feel so much better and in control when I am up, dressed and I have got the washing on before everyone else's day has even started. I discovered this habit is the key that makes me feel productive, positive and more in control – every day.
5.
Bad days are not your personal punishment: Bad days happen, full stop. No matter how good your intentions are and no matter how well you plan things in advance, life can come along and throw a spanner in the works. Rather than fighting fate, give in and get on with it. Tomorrow will invariably be better. It takes effort and conviction to feel like this, but make it your goal.
6.
Lists make things happen: Along with the calendar, I live by my lists. If I store all my ideas and tasks in my head there is no room left for inspiration and creativity. I have taught the rest of the family to do the same, otherwise plans get forgotten and opportunities can be missed. I find it helps if you have a notebook and pen easily to hand in the kitchen, office and bedroom, but see what works for you.
7.
Delegation is not a dirty word: Are you one of those people who think they have to do it all? I used to be, and I have no idea why! In part, perhaps it is because I get satisfaction from achievement, but in part it was because I was not sure when it was acceptable to let go. But learning to delegate has transformed my life! I have created employment as a result, I have freed up time to spend with my family and in enjoying my new life abroad, and I think I have become less of a stressed out control freak as a result.
In Conclusion
The saying goes: "a woman's work is never done" – and we can all relate to that. There are never enough hours in the day to do everything, so it has to be a case of prioritising what you want to achieve and focusing only on these goals.
A portable and flexible career can be an expatriate woman's key to getting as close as possible to complete fulfilment – in that it enables a woman to live where she wants whilst continuing to bring in an income and develop professionally.
Finally, combining a portable career with an active life and family management plan will allow expatriate women everywhere to get the very most out of family life abroad.
Rhiannon Davies is the editor of http://www.ShelterOffshore.com - a well-known expatriate and financial lifestyle publication.
