As Freshers Week comes and goes, reality sets in!
Homesickness is a common experience among new students, and returning students alike, who are away at University for an exciting chapter in their life.
Whether you’ve travelled from across the globe or a nearby city, it’s a significant shift for anyone. There’s no getting around the fact that spending a lot of time away from your friends, family, and pets may be tremendously difficult.
There is no reason to be ashamed of experiencing homesickness. Every student will experience it at some point, but the most crucial thing you can do is to not let it prevent you from taking advantage of this thrilling new chapter in your life.
If you’re feeling homesick and pining for home, follow our top tips for coping with homesickness.
Remember, everyone’s in it together!
You can find comfort in knowing that many university students are in the same boat as you. Homesickness is normal, especially when you’re away from home for the first time in a demanding environment like university. Discuss how you’re feeling honestly with your new friends or roommates. It is said that a problem shared is a problem halved.
Don’t isolate yourself.
Isolating oneself is the worst thing you can do when you miss home. Certainly, isolating yourself in your room and eating Nutella straight from the jar seems good when you’re feeling down. At the end of the day, though, this will just make you feel worse and further depress you. You won’t get to participate in enjoyable activities with your roommates or course peers, and you’ll start to feel more alone than ever.
When you occasionally need some alone time, your room might be your safe haven, but avoid staying there for an extended period of time. Get involved in student life by participating in organisations and societies, going out with your roommates, or finding a part-time job while you are still in school.
Home comforts can help
It’s usually a good idea to carry a few home comforts with you, whether you’re going to a university halfway around the world or just down the road. Bring at least one or two of your favourite mementos, such as pictures of your loved ones, your teddy bear, your favourite foods, or other meaningful items. Your living environment can be made much more attractive by having some mementos of home, which can always provide you comfort when you’re feeling particularly down.
Stay in touch with friends and family
We are so fortunate to be able to pick up a device in the modern digital world and instantly see and communicate with our loved ones. Remember that your loved ones are just a WhatsApp video call away if you’re missing them. Keeping in touch with loved ones back home can frequently be a quick mood booster.
However, avoid calling home too frequently. The feeling of missing out can worsen if you get overly preoccupied with events at home. Stay in touch and catch up sometimes, but make an effort to go out and meet new people as well.
Book a trip back home (but not too early).
The key to adjusting to university life is to welcome the first few weeks with open arms. They can also be very challenging though. Although it can be all too easy to give up at the first obstacle, make sure to persevere. Then, when you’re more at ease in your new location, plan a holiday back home to see your loved ones. It will offer you something to look forward to once you’ve given yourself some time to adjust to everything.
If you plan a trip home too soon, you run the risk of not wanting to go back to school without really giving it a chance.
Fill your social calendar.
The best distraction strategy is to keep active. Freshers’ Week offers the ideal opportunity to plunge headfirst into student life and take part in a variety of entertaining activities every single day, but it doesn’t have to end there.
Try to establish a routine as soon as Freshers’ Week’s dust has settled to prevent yourself from having time to reflect on how you’re feeling. Get up and go to your lectures; consider going to the campus gym; join a group or club; and arrange events with your new college buddies. You won’t even have time to consider how much you miss home because of your hectic schedule.
Familiarise yourself with your new surroundings
You’re immersed in strange circumstances and haven’t had time to adjust and feel at ease, which contributes to how overpowering homesickness can be. Consequently, why not schedule some time to go exploring? Learn everything there is to know about your campus and the resources accessible to you. It will start to seem like your second home as soon as you start to recognise the locations and people.
Seek support
Remember that there is always support available if your emotions are getting so overwhelming that they are preventing you from adjusting to university life. There are numerous ways you can get support if you’re having mental health issues. Talk to your fellow students, flatmates, and course peers; they’re sure to have had similar emotions at one time or another.
Don’t disregard using the student support services offered by your university too quickly, as well. Institutions have expertise in helping students adjust to their new way of life, whether it be through counselling services, student mentorship programmes, or suggestions for activities you might participate in.
Never be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for assistance if you need it; you have nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It’s crucial to look after your mental health while are away from home. You are not by yourself!
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