Before I go into more details about said lie mentioned in the title, let me tell you a short story.

My first experience buying an online course was back in 2020, right at the start of COVID. A sudden promotion had thrown me into uncharted territory—my team went through a massive restructuring, and I was offered a step-up. Exciting, right? Well, not for long.

The initial thrill quickly turned into imposter syndrome.

What if I’m not good enough?
I don’t have enough experience for this.
I don’t deserve it.

Like many in moments of self-doubt, I frantically searched for answers.

Blog after blog, I devoured content until I found a site that really spoke to me. Their promise? A $2,000 online course that would transform me into the professional I needed to be. Desperate for confidence, I bought it.

Looking back, I realize that this decision wasn’t driven by a genuine need for knowledge—it was fueled by fear. Fear of not being enough. Fear of failing. Fear of stepping into something unknown.

And guess what? That course didn’t change my career.

I skimmed through it for a week before feeling overwhelmed again. What truly made a difference? 

Doing the thing I was scared of.

Guess what, after over 6 years working in the same industry, I have built more confidence. I learned tones. I messed up even more. Ultimately, the experience is what moved the needle for me. 

The exact same applies to those of you reading this and are considering moving abroad.

The biggest lie?

Thinking that there’s a ‘perfect’ way to prepare for moving abroad. May it be through courses or (insert expensive method here) or by thinking that the more you prepare, the ‘readier’ you’ll feel.

Readiness comes from action, not endless planning.

So, how should I prepare for moving abroad then?

If you took a move abroad course and it worked for you, I salute you. 

But if you are still stuck in this constant cycle of not feeling like you are ready, and if your brain is tricking you into believing that yet another online course will get you to your dream country, this is your reminder to do what scares you. 

Are you scared about learning a new language? 

Or making friends? 

Not liking life abroad?

Let me remind you one thing here: as humans, one thing we are very good at is adapting. 

Most of us either know a close friend or family member who moved to a different city,  immigrated to a new country, or studied a few months abroad. 

Surely if they did it, so can you. 

Be confident in yourself and your ability to adapt, and problem-solve issues as they come. 

No matter how many courses you take, they won’t ever make you “ready.” 

The only way to know if moving abroad is for you is to actually do it. 

Of course, due diligence is important—you need to understand a country’s specifics. For instance, bureaucracy in Spain is notoriously slow, and understanding visa requirements beforehand is a must. But beyond the basics, the best preparation is taking the leap and figuring it out as you go."

What do I know about it? 

I moved abroad a few times in my life, first to the UK, then to the U.S, and now to Spain. Guess what, I also felt like I could not do it. But guess what, here we are my journey was no a walk in the park, but I am here to share that it is possible.

So if you’re stuck thinking another course to move abroad will make you “ready”  and prepared to move abroad, ask yourself—are you really learning, or just delaying?

Now, you might be thinking this sounds good but what else should I do instead? 

Here are 5 tips I would recommend as an alternative to online courses if you are set on moving abroad soon. 

5 ways to prepare your move abroad successfully 

1. Find people in the same boat as you or those who already took the plunge

Rather than spending money on an online course, spend time connecting with real people who’ve already made the move.

I am a sucker for a Facebook group, even if I tend to be a quiet lurker, I always find them super helpful and motivational. When I moved to Barcelona I joined a few of them, and it helped me meet a lot of people. 

So start looking for Facebook groups, expat forums, Reddit threads, and WhatsApp groups where people actively share their experiences. 

Ask questions. Learn from their mistakes. These communities are often more valuable than any paid course because you get real-time advice from people who’ve been in your shoes.

💡 Bonus Tip: Many expat communities host in-person events—if possible, attend one before your move to start building your network early.

1. Research smarter, not harder

A big trap many fall into is over-researching. You don’t need to know everything before you move. Focus only on the essentials:

✅ Visa requirements & residency rules (Make sure you’re legally prepared)
✅ Cost of living & job opportunities (Understand your financial reality)
✅ Housing & neighborhood options (Where will you live?)
✅ Healthcare & insurance (Especially if moving to Spain, since private insurance is required as part of a non-EU citizen visa application)

Everything else—figuring out public transport, where to buy groceries, how to meet people—will naturally fall into place once you arrive.

💡 Think about it this way: If you had to move in a month, what are the 5 things you’d absolutely need to know? Focus on that.

1. Get comfortable with discomfort, it’s part of the adventure

One of the biggest myths about moving abroad is that there’s a way to do it “perfectly.” There isn’t. Things will go wrong. You will feel out of place at times.

But that discomfort? That’s growth.

The key is to accept uncertainty as part of the process rather than seeing it as a sign you’re not ready. Every immigrant, no matter how prepared, has moments where they feel lost. The ones who thrive aren’t necessarily the most prepared—they’re the ones who learn to embrace the unknown.

💡 Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, ask yourself: What’s the worst that could happen? And if that happens, what’s my plan B?

1. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for growth 

If you wait until you have flawless language skills, a dream job lined up, and the perfect apartment secured before moving abroad—you’ll never go.

Instead, shift your mindset from “I need to have everything figured out” to “I just need to take the next step.”

✅ You don’t need to be fluent in Spanish before moving to Spain—start with survival phrases and improve as you go.
✅ You don’t need to land your dream job before relocating—find a way to get your foot in the door and build from there.
✅ You don’t need to have your entire life plan mapped out—focus on making one move at a time.

💡 Perfection is an illusion. Progress is what actually gets you where you want to be.

1. Remember, there are no failures only learnings 

One of the biggest fears people have is “What if I move abroad and it doesn’t work out?”

Here’s the truth: That’s okay.

Some people move abroad and love it. Others move and realize it’s not for them. But even if things don’t go as planned, you’ll have gained something invaluable—experience.

Every challenge will teach you something. Every misstep will make you more resilient. Even if you decide to move back home, you’ll do so with new skills, new perspectives, and the confidence that you took a risk.

💡 The only way to “fail” at moving abroad is to never try at all.

If you got until here, this is your reminder to take the plunge.