Starting Over in Canada: How I’d Set Up My Life If I Came Again

The Reality of Starting Over in Canada

Starting over in Canada, just like any other new country, teaches you a lot, but most of the learning comes after you’ve already struggled through it. This post isn’t about regrets. It’s about clarity, the kind you only get once you’ve lived through confusion, pressure, and survival mode.

If I could go back and start again, here's what I's do differently; without panic, comparison, or unnecessary stress.

Mindset First: I'd stop stressing about these immediately

The first thing I’d fix isn’t my job, my resume, or my finances, it’s my mindset.

I’d stop stressing about having everything figured out so fast. I’d stop panicking over timelines, comparisons, and whether I was “doing enough.” I didn’t realize back then that starting over means your only real job in the beginning is stability, not success.

I’d remind myself that feeling lost doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I’m rebuilding.

I’d let myself be new, without shame.

I'd stop comparing myself to others who came before me and then rushing into becoming them without even first finding myself!

If I came again, I’d move slower. I’d allow myself to grow into my own rhythm instead of borrowing someone else’s timeline. Because becoming settled isn’t about copying what worked for others, it’s about building a life that actually fits you.

Money basics: I'd set these up in first 30 days

Money stress silently controls your peace when you’re new, and I underestimated that.

If I came again, I’d focus on the basics immediately:

• A proper chequing and savings account

• A starter credit card, even with a low limit

• Learning how credit scores actually work in Canada

  
  

I wouldn’t ignore my credit just because I was “new” or “temporary.” I’d also be more intentional with spending in the first few months, not restrictive, just aware.

I’ve learned that financial calm doesn’t come from earning more right away. It comes from understanding the system early.

And I'd start building an emergency fund right away. Even if I can only put $10-20 a month to begin with, I'd do that. This fund would be my own little secret account which I'd grow with whatever amount I could add.

I'd learn the system instead of fighting it

This is a big one.

For a long time, I took everything personally, job rejections, silence after applications, slow progress. I questioned my abilities, my choices, and sometimes even my decision to move. Now I know it wasn’t about my worth. It was about the system.

If I came again, I’d spend time understanding how things actually work:

Why referrals matter.

Why resumes are structured differently.

Why “no response” is common and not a reflection of ability.

I’d stop attaching my self-worth to outcomes I can’t control. I’d stop reading silence as rejection and delays as failure. I’d understand that systems move slowly, processes are impersonal, and progress often happens quietly before it becomes visible.

Once you stop fighting the system and start learning it, things feel less heavy. You move with more intention and less frustration. You stop reacting emotionally and start responding strategically.

I wouldn’t rush to prove myself anymore. I wouldn’t spiral after every setback. I’d treat each experience as information, not judgment.

Because learning the system doesn’t make you cold, it makes you calm. It gives you clarity instead of confusion, patience instead of panic, and direction instead of doubt.

And most importantly, it teaches you this: You are not the problem. You’re just learning a new environment.

Jobs: What I’d Focus on Instead of “Any Job”

I used to think survival meant taking any job and pushing through no matter how draining it felt.

If I came again, I’d still take a starter job, but I’d be more mindful about what it teaches me.

I’d prioritize roles that help me learn:

• Communication

• Team dynamics

• Canadian workplace culture

I’d stop feeling embarrassed about starting small and stop comparing my chapter one to someone else’s chapter ten.

Your first job isn’t your final destination, it’s just a bridge.

Now that I have been here over 5 years, I understand this and I created a post about: How to build a career in Canada without “Canadian Experience” u so that you can get head start if you are new.

Volunteering & Networking: What I’d 100% Do Again

This is one thing I did right, and I’d do it again without hesitation.

Volunteering helped me understand Canadian work culture in a low-pressure way. It helped me build confidence, connections, and real experience that actually mattered on my resume.

If I came again, I’d volunteer with at least two different organizations, not just one. Not to overwork myself, but to explore, learn, and grow intentionally.

Networking doesn’t have to feel forced. Sometimes it just looks like showing up consistently and being curious.

Read about my volunteer experience here: My Experience Volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross

If you are looking for Volunteer Opportunities, I have created list that you can find here.

Health: What I’d Take Seriously From Day One

I treated rest like a reward instead of a necessity. I ignored exhaustion. I normalized burnout.

I now deal with severe tailbone pain due to all my sitting jobs and long hours that I spend drawing and painting. I ignored it for a long time and now I am suffering. I'd make sure I take breaks, do daily stretches, improve my posture and focus on a healthy diet.

If I came again, I’d do this differently:

• Register for healthcare as soon as I’m eligible

• Take both physical and mental health seriously

• Stop surviving only on instant food and caffeine

• Build simple routines instead of extreme habits

I’ve learned that you can’t hustle your way out of burnout. Your body always keeps the score.

Protecting your health isn’t slowing down, it’s self-respect.

Art: I’d Protect My Creative Side

This one is deeply personal.

If I came to Canada again, I wouldn’t push my art to the sidelines while I tried to “get settled.” I wouldn’t wait for life to feel stable before creating.

I’d protect my creativity, even if it was just a few quiet moments a week.

Art has always been more than a hobby for me. It’s how I process, heal, and stay connected to myself. When I ignored it, I felt disconnected, even when everything else looked “fine.”

I’d create without pressure. Without worrying about perfection, posting, or progress. Just creating because it grounds me.

I’ve learned that creativity isn’t something you return to after life calms down. Sometimes, it’s what helps life calm down in the first place.

I am now back again with giving more time to my art and I hope I'd been doing this all along.

If I Could Tell My Younger Self One Thing

I’d tell her this:

You don’t need to rush. You don’t need to prove anything. And you’re allowed to build a life that feels peaceful, not just impressive.

Starting over is hard, but it’s also powerful. And if you’re in that phase right now, just know this:

You’re doing better than you think.