The Wonder Woman Syndrome: when Expat Women try to do it all

Let's drop that cape, shall we?

She’s the one who makes the international move look effortless; juggling work, parenting, paperwork, new languages, culture shock and still remembers to pack snacks for the school trip.

Sound familiar?

Welcome to the Wonder Woman Syndrome. A label often worn with pride, but one that comes with a high price tag. And for many expat women, it quietly creeps in the moment they land in a new country.

What Is the Wonder Woman Syndrome?

It’s the pressure to do it all, perfectly and all at once: To be the supportive partner, the attentive parent, the high-achieving professional, and the well-adjusted expat who makes friends easily and handles every challenge with grace.

Behind the mask of “I’ve got this,” there's often a story of exhaustion, self-doubt, and silent struggle.

Why Is It So Common Among Expat Women?

When you’re abroad, your identity gets shaken up. You might leave behind a career, a support system, or a version of yourself that felt grounded.

In that void, many women feel the need to overcompensate, proving their worth through doing.

And let’s not forget the invisible labor: helping the family adjust, navigating logistics, managing emotions, maintaining appearances.

It’s a beautiful kind of strength, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of your well-being.

Signs You Might Be Caught in the Wonder Woman Trap

• You feel guilty asking for help

• You rarely take time for yourself (and feel bad when you do)

• You’re always “on,” even when exhausted

• You downplay your own needs to keep peace in the family

• You silently compare yourself to others who “seem to have it all together”

Sound familiar?

You Don’t Need to Be Everything to Everyone

One of the most powerful things you can do is take off the cape and choose presence over perfection.

Living abroad is already an act of courage. You don’t need to prove anything by doing it all.

In fact, when you slow down, ask for help, and allow yourself space to breathe, you become a stronger version of yourself, not a superhuman one, but a grounded, joyful one.

Start A New Narrative

As part of the solution process, I often compare this kind of life change with becoming a new parent.

When you're about to have a baby, you prepare. You read books, attend classes, ask friends, build a support system. You try your best to be ready; not just logistically, but also emotionally.

So why don’t we do the same when it comes to moving countries?

Global relocation is a massive life shift (very much like when your first baby arrives). It deserves preparation, support, and time to adjust. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. You’re allowed to need help. And you’re allowed to take care of yourself first so that you can care for others.

From Superwoman to Sustainable

Letting go of the Wonder Woman cape doesn’t mean giving up.

It means giving yourself the same care and attention you give others.

It means asking: What do I need right now?

It means accepting support, not as weakness, but as wisdom and an opportunity to grow.

It means redefining success, not as doing more, but as living better.

A New Kind of Support

This is exactly why I created my on-demand coaching/ training program, Pilot Your Expatriation & Beyond.

It’s designed to help you:

• Let go of the overwhelm

• Reduce stress and regain your energy

• Reconnect with who you are

• Redefine your posture as a leader

• And create a life abroad you’re truly proud of

You’ve worn the cape long enough.

Now it’s time to step into something more sustainable and far more fulfilling.

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Hi there, I'm Anne Guslandi, a certified professional Coach, ACC, specialized in Expatriation, with over 20 years of experience living abroad across three continents.

Throughout my journey, I’ve never met an expat who said it was easy, in fact, it’s quite the opposite!

But most said "it 100% worth it!"

That’s why I designed this on-demand course "Pilot your Expatriation & Beyond"

The objectives of this program are :

✈️  to energize you & make you feel empowered

✈️  to help you effectively navigate your International life & career with a clear and aligned plan 

✈️  to ease your personal growth & positive mindset shift that this life change requires

✈️  to better apprehend cultural differences 

Your overall outcome: You’ll learn and grow as you gain the tools and strategies to adapt faster, empowering you to create a fulfilling life abroad that you can truly be proud of, with the people you love! Take the lead 🙌

 Discover more www.expatcoachingcorner.com