The 8 Best Ways to Deal With Homesickness

Being away from home can be tough, especially if you're in a completely new and unfamiliar place. But don't worry! There are plenty of ways to deal with homesickness while studying abroad, and Educatly will explore some of the most effective ones to help you enjoy your time studying abroad.

Homesickness is the feeling of longing for home and is often accompanied by feelings of sadness and anxiety. It is a common experience for people who are away from home, especially when they are studying abroad.

Simply being in a new and unfamiliar environment makes people feel homesick while studying abroad. It means you might feel like you don't fit in or belong, and miss the comforts and familiarity of home. It could happen because of cultural shock, anxiety about being away from home, and loneliness. However, there are ways to deal with homesickness and we're about to tackle them one by one.

Here Are the 7 Most Common Symptoms of Homesickness:

• 1. Anxiety
• 2. Irritability
• 3. Loneliness
• 4. Depression
• 5. Longing for familiar things
• 6. Memory problems
• 7. Fatigue

If you're studying abroad and feeling homesick, it's important to remember that it's normal and that you're not alone. It’s temporary and it will eventually go away. There are many people who have gone through the same thing and there are proven successful ways to cope with feeling homesick.

The 8 Top Ways to Deal With Homesickness:

1. Stay connected with home: Whether it's through social media, Skype, or email. Staying in touch with your loved ones back home will help you feel less alone and more connected.

2. Stay busy: It can help take your mind off of homesickness and help you focus on enjoying your time abroad.  Explore your new surroundings, make new friends and try new things. The more you occupy your time, the less you'll think about home.

3. Get involved in your host community: Participate in local events or volunteer for a cause you're passionate about.

4. Write about your experiences: Keeping a journal is a great way to process your thoughts and feelings about being away from home.

5. Make a photo album of your time abroad: This will be a great keepsake to look back on later and might help you realize how special this experience is.

6. Find other students from your home country: who are also studying abroad. Spending time with someone who understands what you're going through can be very comforting.

7. Get involved on campus: Join clubs and organizations, make friends, and get involved in campus life. The more you do, the more likely you are to feel like you belong.

8. Cook your favourite foods from home: You can also visit restaurants that serve cuisine from your country. This will help you feel more connected to home.

If you find that your homesickness is impacting your ability to function on a daily basis while studying abroad, it may be time to seek professional help. A therapist can help you work through your feelings and find coping mechanisms that work for you. Talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling and try to stay positive. 

If you think you can handle homesickness and want to study abroad anyway, then you’re in the right place! To find and get the perfect opportunity abroad, just sign up to Educatly, and update your profile to get a personalized browsing experience on Educatly and get matched with a suitable program based on your interests.

You can also just as easily browse through 29,500+ programs all over the world in diverse degree levels and majors. Select your favourite program and Educatly's team of educational counsellors will help you all the way.

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