Moving Abroad to Escape Your Problems? Why It Might Be the Best Choice You Ever Make

People often say you shouldn’t “run away” by moving abroad to escape your problems — but sometimes those problems or inflection points are what you really need to finally move abroad. In this blog, we talk through examples of when it might be unhealthy to run away from your problems and move abroad and when it’s the healthy decision to make. 

The Stigma of “Running Away”

You’ve probably heard it before: “You can’t run from your problems.”
It’s a message that’s very common — the idea that strength means staying put and facing discomfort head-on. But sometimes, the environment you’re in contributes to the problem itself. Whether it’s burnout, unhealthy relationships, or feeling disconnected from your surroundings, a change of place can end up being the fresh start you really need.

The real question isn’t “Are you running away?” but “Are you running toward something new?”

The Inflection Point

Most people don’t move abroad on a whim. There’s usually an inflection point — a moment when something shifts, and staying the same no longer feels possible. Common triggers for an inflection point might be a career burnout, the end of a relationship, or feeling like life has become stagnant. These moments create clarity and urgency — two things that often push people to take bold action (and in our case that bold action is to move abroad!).

Moving abroad can become the vehicle for that transformation. Sometimes, discomfort is exactly the spark needed to make change happen.

Are You Ready — or Escaping Unhealthily?

I think that when we’re thinking about moving abroad, it’s important to understand why you want to move.

Ask yourself: will leaving help you grow, or are you hoping distance will erase deeper problems that won’t actually improve if you move abroad?

Healthy motivations include seeking personal growth, wanting new experiences, or just desiring a different pace of life. Red flags include avoiding responsibility, believing a new country will “fix everything,” or maybe even leaving without reflection.

A useful question to ask is: Am I running toward the life I want, or just away from the one I don’t want?

Why Moving Abroad Isn’t Just Escapism

When you move abroad, you bring yourself with you — your habits, your mindset, your challenges. But a new environment gives you perspective and distance, which can help you heal and reset.

Living abroad forces growth. You adapt to unfamiliar systems, cultures, and people. You build resilience and flexibility, not because you plan it, but because you have to.

Moving abroad doesn’t erase problems — but it can catalyze positive transformation in your life.

Reframing “Running Away”

When we have a big change in life, or an inflection point like leaving an unhealthy job or ending a relationship, moving abroad doesn’t mean you’re running away from your problems. It’s just using those difficult times of inflection to start anew.

Final Thoughts

Change rarely comes from comfort, and moving abroad can be the step that helps you rebuild with clarity and purpose. If you’re considering moving abroad because life has reached an inflection point, then congratulations! Life has offered you a little “push” you probably needed to actually accomplish your dream of moving abroad. You’re not escaping your problems; you’re creating the space to grow beyond them.

Take some time to reflect on this: Why are you moving abroad? What are you moving away from, and what are you moving toward?

If you’re ready to get clarity on the best place abroad that matches your vibe, take the quiz to find your ideal European city — or share this with someone who’s considering their own big change.

Think moving abroad is too complicated?
Tune in to Episode 98: Everyone Thinks Moving Abroad Is Hard — They’re Wrong to learn why it’s easier than you think.