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You are here: Home Health & Fitness Well-Being Editor's Guide: Wellbeing in Belgium

Wellbeing

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10/01/2012Editor's Guide: Wellbeing in Belgium

Editor's Guide: Wellbeing in Belgium Here's a short introduction to our Wellbeing section for Belgium.

Wellbeing is defined as "the state of being happy, healthy or prosperous." Being all three is no mean feat. For expats seeking that balance, especially just after relocating, achieving wellbeing can be especially challenging.

Relocation challenges
The stress involved with moving to a new country throws many expats off balance. Traumas, bad relationships and life's disappointments seem to become a thing of the past as you pack your bags and face a new future full of possibilities. But once the honeymoon wears off, the subsequent expatriate adjustment process can be difficult as one settles into a new culture and lifestyle.

Expat counselling can be useful in some cases—check out Expatica’s A-Z listings and Groups & Clubs listings to find expat care near you. For some expats, simply getting out and about, making an effort to get involved in the local and international community is enough to get back on track. As Expatica article ‘Notes for country movers’ points out to singles: Don't become a hermit or a bar-fly. Get out and about. Try to network with the expat community.

Read expat newspapers or magazines. Socialise with people from the office, carry on with your favourite sports, hobbies or interests. This way, you'll meet like-minded people, even if they don’t speak the same language. Couples, especially if one partner isn’t working, also need to focus on making new contacts and building up a network in their new land.


Networking and going out
Expatica forums are a great way to network and to meet other expats. Set up a user profile and make an effort to participate in the online community. The Expatica Café is an excellent place to network, make new friends and learn more about life in Belgium. If you’re looking for a partner, join Expatica’s dating site or keep an eye out for Expatica’s regular singles nights and speed dating events. Or check out Expatica’s What’s on section to plan your own night (or day) out.

Ask Expat Aunt: Help! I miss my friends and family back home

In 2010, Expatica introduced several new online experts to help you tackle the day-to-day issues of living abroad. Read our introduction to this new series with tips on how to cope with living away from friends and family.

Join a group
Whether you take up yoga, wine tasting, or enroll in a language course, you’ll find this to be a great way to meet people. For mothers with young children, joining a local playgroup can help you to make new friends and pick up tips such as where to find a reliable babysitter and where to send your child to school.

Relaxation time
Check out Expatica articles to find the best recreation spots in your area for a family picnic, walk with the dog, or simply go for a stroll to clear out the cobwebs of the day. Make use of the Expatica A-Z listings to search for regional health clubs, spas and beauty salons should you feel like pampering yourself. Massage away your cares and enjoy expat life to the full!


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