Create a Home Away From Home: How to Avoid Homesickness?

Moving away from home for academic or career opportunities is a big transition, regardless of whether you’ve moved to another state or the other side of the world. If you’re homesick, remember you’re not the only one. Feeling homesick is pretty normal, especially in the first few months of moving out. Your peers are probably feeling it too, but they just don’t share.

But don’t worry; here are some tips to overcome homesickness and help you keep it together when everything seems bleak.

Let Yourself Feel Homesick

Feeling homesick isn’t your weakness or something to be ashamed of. Most students experience it and get affected by it. You’ll make things worse for yourself if you keep feeling guilty about missing home. Let yourself be homesick for a while. A good cry can be therapeutic. Give yourself a day, feel it all, get out of the house, and practice self-care.

Bring Your Treasured Belongings to the University

Be it your comfort blanket or your favorite plushy from childhood, we all have objects that cheer us up when we’re feeling down. Whatever it may be, make sure you bring it along. This is essential because home comforts can help immensely when feeling homesick. And don’t get conscious about having cuddly toys in your university dorm; the chances are your flatmates will also have theirs hidden away.

Go Out and Stay Busy

Having your own place and staying in your safe haven might seem tempting, but spending time inside your room will worsen your homesickness. Isolating yourself will intensify your feeling of loneliness and make you miss your home more. Try keeping yourself busy by studying at the library, organizing day trips, getting a part-time job, or even trying extra-curricular activities. Doing a part-time job will also look great on your CV.

Explore Your New Surroundings

The primary reason behind feeling homesick is often due to being unfamiliar with your new surroundings. This is why it is a great idea to allot some time to explore the town or city you reside in so you feel more at home and familiarize yourself with the culture. Not exploring the city is one of the biggest regrets most students have once they graduate.

Stroll, do sightseeing, volunteer for the local community, and explore your university campus. You’re there for just a few years, so make the most of it.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

The biggest myth about university is that it’s all about partying, messing around, and getting drunk with minimal responsibilities. It’s easy to see everyone’s social media accounts and think you’re not having as much fun as you’re supposed to or doing something wrong. But don’t forget social media doesn’t depict people’s actual lives. Try not to compare your university experiences with others; don’t expect every day to be eventful or fun.

Longing for familiarity and home is human nature; you should not be ashamed of feeling this way. You aren’t alone in this turmoil. Leslie also struggled with homesickness in his university life and has shared how he combatted it in his book The Unofficial Guide to Surviving College. Grab your copy from Amazon today to benefit from his insights and experience.