Live the Healthiest and Happiest Life

Posted on

3 May 2015

| Last updated on 4 May 2015

Live the Healthiest and Happiest Life

Meet Kylie Bevan who loves exploring. As a certified health coach Kylie teaches the importance of being healthy and happy wherever you are.

We’re living in:

Currently my husband, our two girls and I are living in Tonga, with a move to Vanuatu in a few months. Our home country of Australia is also wonderful and we will eventually return. For now, we’re loving immersing ourselves in different cultures.

A bit about me:

My passions are travel, health and people. So it’s no surprise that I’ve chosen to marry the three into a career that nourishes me on all levels – as a Health & Relocation Coach. I help people around the world relocate and resettle in a healthy and happy way, so they have the energy and enthusiasm to embrace their new location all the sooner. Being part of their transformation allows me to jump out of bed every morning, I love it.

My childhood entailed a few moves within Australia, and in teenage years a few overseas holidays – so moving to live and work in England just before my 18th birthday was not overly daunting. It was the beginning of many major and minor moves, ranging from solo, to with a partner, then with my now-husband and most recently with children as well. Each move has tested me, encouraged me to learn and grow, and ensured I’m even more ready for the next.

I also love the outdoors, so exploring new coastlines, mountains, walking trails and backroads ensures there is always more to discover.

How long have you lived there?

We’ve been in Tonga for one year.

Why did you move?

My husband is an engineer and was offered advisory work with the Ministry of Infrastructure in Tonga.

Why I like living here:

Unique coastline including blowholes, reef, lagoons and white beaches complete with coconut palms hanging over the water.
Fresh fish, coconuts, bananas, papaya, sweet potatoes – meals can be completely local, seasonal, nutrient-dense and full of taste!
Whales congregate from July to November, providing opportunities to see new calves learning how to leap out of the water, and even swim near them.
Meeting expats from around the world.
The pace of life. Admittedly it has taken me 12 months to slow down, however earlier nights and family-focused weekends have been perfect to heal my over-business of many decades.

Accommodation Options:

Accommodation is not inexpensive, and fluctuates in availability. Long-term choices range from serviced hotel rooms to share houses to houses.

What do you enjoy doing with your time:

As my children attend the local international school, I work from home during school hours. After school they have a choice of activities, of particular interest being playdates and Shugyo, a form of taekwondo. Weekends are all about swimming, socializing and relaxing. Sunday is a very important day of the week in Tonga, with high church attendance and strict restrictions on activities including sport and leisure.

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What top tips do you have for anyone considering a move?

In October 2014 I published a book called Your Relocation Solution: be healthy and happy wherever you are. Some of my tips from that book are:

Pick a word or phrase to focus on. Mine is ‘best choice available’. Whether it relates to food, exercise, home environment, career or relationships, this mantra gives me permission to make choices that relate to the here and now. Because that’s where I am.
Give yourself time to settle in. In researching this book, women sometimes took months or years to enjoy their new location, often arriving via a satisfaction rollercoaster ride. Recognise every day as an opportunity to grow. Congratulate yourself for ‘high’ days and be gentle with yourself on the ‘low’ ones.
Make the most of it. Take a moment every night to recall or write down three things that you enjoyed today.
Employ the help of a local to show, or introduce you to, their favourite health practitioner, doctor, dentist, shopping places, hairdresser, restaurants, weekend location and areas to live. Ask lots of questions.
Take care of you. Get plenty of sleep. Treat yourself to a massage, facial or pedicure
See the ‘silver lining’ in challenges. Learn from any mistakes. How could you simplify what went wrong? Is there a way to solve that frustration? Who could support you in doing so? What else do you need – tools, advice, skills?
Share your journey with interested others, by way of a blog, social media, emails or phone calls. You may be amazed how many are in awe of what you’ve achieved. Recognise any negative feedback is their story, not yours.

What do you wish you’d known before you moved?

That bad habits end up coming with you unless you make a conscious effort otherwise – in my case, an overflowing inbox and reliance on internet.

What’s the best thing about being an expat?

The opportunity to learn, grow, understand and empathise with others and myself!

Anything else you’d like to share with us about your expat experience?

I regularly blog at http://healthwellnessrevolution.com, as well as here at ExpatWoman, so I’d like to welcome you to subscribe to my newsletter for relocation insights, recipes and health tips, as well as to take part in the conversations.

As a certified Health Coach; author of Your Relocation Solution: be healthy and happy wherever you are; founder of Health & Wellness Revolution; with a background in travel and finance; Kylie is deeply passionate about helping people embrace life with energy and enthusiasm.