Living abroad: the days with your parents you have left
When you live abroad, time with your parents comes in short visits. Counting the days, not the years, shows how much is left, and how much one more trip adds.
Your numbers
Common answers are filled in. Change the ones you know.
Typical: 62 years. Put in yours.
Leave it at 0 to use the average for their age in India. Many people live far longer than the average.
It only changes the order on your statement.
What waiting costs you
235 days left
At this pace, about 235 more days together
That's 14 days a year for about 16.8 years. Your plan of 30 days a year would add about 269 days.
Your small stepLook at flights for your next long break tonight, and tell your parents the dates.
How we worked this out
- Years: about 16.8, the average at age 62 in India. It's a group average, not a prediction.
- Days together now: 14 a year × 16.8 years = 235.
- With your plan: 30 a year × 16.8 years = 503.
- Missed while it waited: (30 minus 14) × 12 months ÷ 12 = 16 days.
- How much it matters to you: 7 out of 10. It only changes the order on your statement.
Fixed figures
- Average years left at 62: 16.8 years
Sources
- Tim Urban, The Tail End (2015): Counting the days you have left with someone, instead of the years, shows how much of that time may already be behind you.
- WHO Global Health Observatory (2020): In India, a person who reaches 60 lives about 17.8 more years on average.
- UN World Population Prospects (2024): In India, a person who reaches 80 lives about 7.6 more years on average.
How it works
We multiply the days a year you spend together by the years your parent can expect to live, on average.
Averages aren't a prediction about anyone, so treat the number as a guide, not a forecast.
Then we show how many more days your plan would add.
Sources
- Tim Urban, The Tail End (2015): An idea, not data. The numbers come from your answers and the averages below.
- WHO Global Health Observatory (2020): A group average, never a prediction for one person. The 2021 figure dipped to about 15.6 during COVID, so we use 2020.
- UN World Population Prospects (2024): A group average from a secondary site. Between 60 and 80 we draw a straight line.
Questions people ask
Isn't this a sad thing to count?
It can feel heavy. The point is to choose more of that time on purpose, not to worry about it.
Is this telling me to move back?
No. Where you live is your choice. This only shows what your visits add up to.
Putting off more than one thing?
Pick up to five and get your Delay Statement: what to do first, what can wait, and one small step for today.
Want a nudge to act on it?
The app turns what you're putting off into a short list for each day: your Top 3 and one small step at a time. It's free.
We show what waiting costs on your own plans. We never tell you what to buy or invest in. Rules and averages change, so check the official pages before you plan anything.