I hate Tuesday’s. I truly do.

I know this is not a hot take, a lot of people hate Tuesdays. It’s the day that really has no purpose. Monday is to kick start the week, Wednesday is to roll us over the hump, Thursday is for after work drinks and Fridays are for RnB – always (thank you 2DayFM Aus). But Tuesdays. Nothing.

This week, I’ve had Sahil Bloom in my ear talking about the 5 types of wealth. He focuses on how wealth is not just the financial dollar that sits in our accounts but rather the social connections, time, intellect and physical state of our being. I’ve found it an enjoyable, easy listen. Nothing too revolutionary but a good framework to work with.

I had Sahil on in the background when he started talking about how much he also hates Tuesdays. Ok, Sahil, I’m listening. “You want to choose a life where you can wake up on a random Tuesday and think, wow this is great” but “the monotony of routine will be the tax to your future success”. I loved the sentiment of the first statement but loathed the essence of the second statement. Routine? Monotony? *goes to sleep*

My reaction to these words got me thinking - Why do Tuesdays and the monotony of routine feel even harder when you are an expat? I’ve decided by no authority or qualification that this can be answered by boiling us expats down into two categories: the Temporary Wanderer and the Stationed Alien.

Temporary Wanderer (ˈtɛmp(ə)r(ər)i/ /ˈwɒnd(ə)rə/): The expat who knows that one day they will return to where their family and friends reside. They tend to see there years overseas as a ‘time in their life’.

Note: If you are an Australian that chooses to live in London as a Temporary Wanderer you will be asked at least once a week how long you plan on staying. This is all a part of the application process to see who will be awarded the longest London Survivor medal that all Australian expats are secretly vying for.
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Stationed Alien (/ˈsteɪʃn/ /ˈeɪlɪən/): The expat who does not foresee returning to where they are ‘from’. They have truly created a life in a new place and have core foundations that ground them there (e.g. work, relationships, finances).

Tip: Do not ask these people when they will head back “home”. The conversation will die.


I define myself as a Temporary Wanderer as I know that one day I will reside back in my Australian bubble. I have a sense of urgency to see and do everything during these years overseas. Not being able to provide a highlight reel of ‘cool/random/unique’ expat experiences each week feels like a failure. This mindset (terrible, I’m aware) is what makes it so hard for me to find joy in an idle Tuesday. The monotony of routine during these years away, albeit the supposed ‘tax to success’, scares me. Yet at the same time, I know routine brings me calmness and clarity – critical ingredients to surviving and thriving in these expat years.

So where does that leave me? Probably somewhere in the middle. As the years away from family and friends continue, there must come a time where routine and monotony is, dare I say, peaceful. But, there is always space for a last-minute weekend trip where you spend too much, eat too much and start the week a little out of whack.

Here’s to the ups and downs of a life away and making it what you want it to be.