I moved back in with my parents at 31. These are the 3 things I wasn't prepared for.

The author spent several years abroad, but has now moved home, into her childhood bedroom.

Courtesy of Billie Schwab Dunn.

After living in London for seven years, I recently returned home to Sydney.

I made the decision as my work contract was ending, and my lease was up for renewal.

At the age of 31, I moved straight back into my childhood home with my parents.

After seven years spent building a life in London , I packed up my belongings, boarded a one-way flight to Australia, and moved straight back into my childhood bedroom.

The decision didn't come easy, but it happened quicker than I ever thought it would.

My work contract was finishing , my lease was up for renewal, and I was feeling incredibly burned out.

This May, it felt like the universe was telling me it was finally time to say goodbye to the hustle and bustle I had called home for the majority of my 20s.

After years of hyperindependence and living as far from my family as possible, I'm now back living with my parents at 31.

If my 24-year-old self could see me now, she wouldn't believe it, but London had bled me dry financially.

This was the only possible next step.

I know I'm fortunate enough to have parents that I get along with, but that doesn't mean I wasn't apprehensive.

Three things happened since moving back in with my parents that have truly astonished me — and, surprisingly, a lack of privacy is not one of them.