The trap of infinite research
Most people approach country selection as an optimisation problem: find the one country with the lowest cost, best weather, easiest visa, and highest English fluency. That country doesn't exist, and spending six months searching for it is a reliable way to never leave.
Start with dealbreakers, not preferences
Before comparing spreadsheets, identify your hard constraints. Not preferences — actual dealbreakers. Examples: 'I need reliable fast internet because I do video calls.' 'I cannot be more than 4 time zones from my main clients.' 'I have a chronic condition and need accessible specialist healthcare.' Everything else is negotiable.
The 6-month trial rule
Commit to one country for 6 months before deciding anything permanent. Not a holiday — actual living. A lease, a local SIM, a supermarket you go to regularly. You cannot know if you like a place from 3-week stays. The things that bother you about a country reveal themselves around week 6.