Expat Life in Bali: Choosing Between JOMO and Homesickness

February 11, 2025

Stick It Out or "Bail" Out? 🇦🇺➡️🇮🇩 There’s a saying I love—JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out—and most of the time, I live by it. Choosing this life, moving to Bali, and building something new for our family has been an adventure filled with incredible moments that I wouldn’t trade for anything. But then, there are times—like now—when I start to feel it. Homesickness. Not because I miss Australia itself, but because life keeps moving on back home. Family milestones, celebrations, moments we’d love to be part of but just can’t. It’s the reality of choosing a different path—you gain so much, but you also miss out on things that once felt non-negotiable. And after 12 months of being here, I think it’s finally hitting me. So what do you do when you feel that pull? When you start to wonder if you should stick it out or bail out? For me, it’s about recognizing when to embrace JOMO—to remind myself why we’re here, what we’ve built, and that being present in this life doesn’t mean we love or value our people any less. It’s okay to feel the weight of missing out and still choose to stay. But it’s also okay to acknowledge when you need to shift gears, plan a visit home, or find ways to feel connected even from afar. If you’ve ever made a big move, you know this feeling. So tell me, how do you deal with it? When do you lean into JOMO and when do you let yourself bail out of the funk? 💭👇 #JOMO #Homesickness #ExpatLife #LifeAbroad #BaliLife #BigMoves #MissingHome #FindingBalance

**There’s a saying I love—JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out.** And for the most part, I embrace it. Moving to Bali has been a whirlwind of new experiences, opportunities, and a lifestyle shift that has given our family so much. But now, a year in, something else is creeping in—homesickness. Not for Australia itself, but for the moments happening without us. Birthdays, family gatherings, and milestones that remind us of what we’ve left behind. Choosing this path has been exciting, but it also comes with the reality of missing out on things that once felt essential. So what do you do when the weight of it starts to settle? Do you stick it out or “bail” back home? For me, it’s about balance. I remind myself why we made this move—to build something different, to embrace new experiences, and to give our family a fresh perspective on life. JOMO is a choice—to appreciate being here, in the now, without guilt. At the same time, I allow myself to acknowledge the hard moments. Homesickness doesn’t mean failure. It just means that home still holds a piece of us. Planning visits, staying connected through video calls, and creating new traditions here in Bali all help bridge that gap. If you’ve ever uprooted your life for something new, you’ve likely felt the same struggle. So, how do you cope? Do you hold strong to JOMO, or do you let yourself lean into the nostalgia and find a way back, even if just for a visit? Let’s talk about it. 💭👇 #JOMO #Homesickness #ExpatLife #BaliLife #FindingBalance

#JOMO#Homesickness#Expat Life#Life Abroad#Bali Life#Big Moves#Missing Home#Finding Balance