Taking the leap and becoming an au pair for the summer was one of the most incredible things I have ever done. Since I was a child, I always wanted to travel to the places I had read about. What I didn’t know was how manageable that dream could actually be. It’s easy to sit down, figure out where you want to go, book tickets, and be on your way. It’s easy to fall in love with a new city, make new friends, and build a bond with the kids you care for. What isn’t easy is the mental roadblock you may hit if it’s your first time. For me, that roadblock almost stopped me from experiencing four of the most magical months of my life.

So how do you actually take the leap and become an au pair? Here are the three steps that got me there.

1. Define your “why”
2. Talk with people who have done it before
3. Remind yourself that you’re capable

1. Define Your “Why”

There’s a reason this is number one on my list. It’s one of the most crucial things you need to figure out before you can take the leap. The more clearly you understand why you’d like to do something, the more likely you are to actually do it. Do you want to travel to find yourself? To discover like-minded friends? To see the place where your great-grandparents once lived?

Your “why” is what helps you push through the mental block that comes with trying something new. Anytime we want to begin something new — a hobby, a language, a big move abroad — it’s easy to reason ourselves out of it. Sometimes you’re not even alone in your doubt. Even people who care about you, like family and friends, can project their own fears onto your decision. Something about new experiences can send the mind spiraling into doubt. That’s normal. But if you hold onto your “why,” it will pull you back out.

So sit down with a notebook and define your “why.” Write about how it will make you feel. Visualize yourself as an au pair, living abroad, going through every step of the process, happy at the finish line. Doing this will help you clear that first roadblock — the one that comes from within.

2. Talk With People Who Have Done It Before

Once your “why” is defined and your doubts are a little quieter, start learning more about the process. Being an au pair is a special experience, and it’s one more and more people are discovering. Before I became an au pair, I watched videos and searched social media for past and current au pairs I could ask questions to. I decided to go through Rome Abroad, which has a network of au pairs who are more than willing to help.

There’s always a program representative you can ask questions to, but talking with someone your own age, or from a similar background, can make everything feel more manageable. I wrote down the questions I had — how did you plan weekend trips, how did you get around, how did you connect with your kids — and reached out. I was never met with dismissal, only a willingness to help. Anyone who has been an au pair is usually happy to talk about it.

Talking with people who had lived the experience pushed my doubt even further away. It showed me: if she can do it, so can I. I also watched “day in the life” vlogs from other au pairs, which made the whole experience feel far less intimidating and a lot more exciting.

3. Remind Yourself That You’re Capable

Finally, remind yourself that you’re capable. You’re capable of doing hard things, scary things, new things, exciting things — all of it. You’re more than capable of deciding you want to be an au pair and committing to it. Make your to-do list, stick to it, and check things off one at a time.

Being an au pair doesn’t have to be scary. It can be challenging, sure, but that’s a different thing. Once you have your “why” and you’ve talked to people who’ve done it, the only thing left is knowing you can do it. Becoming an au pair really comes down to mindset: knowing you want to do it, figuring out how (that’s what a guided program like Rome Abroad’s Italy program is there for), and then doing it.

You can take the leap and become an au pair. I know you can, because I did it — and if I can do it, so can you. Get out there and start exploring what’s possible.

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