Surviving Homesickness: Coping Strategies for College Students

You can’t wait to join college and chase your dream. Attending college is exciting, as it’s a new chapter of your life. Meeting new people, exploring new environments, and being exposed to the world is overwhelming. Anxiety and fear are common in some students, which is alright since you will likely face some challenges. The main significant challenge that college learners face is homesickness. Homesickness is the feeling of longing for one’s home or family, which is common among scholars who leave their families and friends to attend college mostly for the first time.

Homesickness can manifest in various ways, such as feeling sad, anxious, or disconnected from one’s surroundings. These emotions can negatively affect a novice’s academic performance and social life. Thus, it’s essential to have survival strategies to overcome homesickness and flourish in college. Carry on to equip yourself with top strategies to deal with homesickness.

Connect with others

Homesickness mostly occurs after a few weeks of settling on campus. During this time, you’re overloaded with activities, like registering your units, school orientations, and familiarizing yourself with the surroundings. This is to help your navigation when classes begin. The homesick feeling emerges after you have unloaded most of these activities.

You can cope with homesick feelings when you connect with others. Finding a link with others is crucial in overcoming homesickness. Besides, learners should try to communicate with their peers, lecturers, and other college community members, like counselors. You can also join clubs, attend events, and participate in social activities to help you make friends and build friendships to create a sense of belonging.

Keep in touch with your loved ones.

It’s hard to stay away from family and friends for the first time. Technology has made things to be simplified as you can use it to stay connected with loved ones. You can video call, text, and use social media to talk to loved ones back home and make it a regular thing. Establish a support system to help you feel less lonely and homesick.

Have an efficient routine

A routine is not only for keeping you focused, motivated, and on track. Creating a routine can help you feel more in control of your life and reduce feelings of homesickness. It will ensure you’re occupied, thus, distracted from homesick feelings. A routine can include waking up and bedtime every day, exercising, studying, and socializing, giving you something to focus on daily. This routine can help you improve your academic performance and general health.

Besides, a busy schedule can help you adjust to your new environment and prevent dwelling on homesickness as you will find something to focus on.

Mind about self-care

Every individual’s physical and mental well-being is essential, and self-care should be a daily routine. It will help if you prioritize your general health by maintaining physical and psychological health. Therefore, easy self-care practices start with eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. Also, ensure you create time for activities that make you happy, such as reading, listening to music, watching a movie, or practicing a hobby. As you work on your physical appearance, remember your inner self.

So, when you feel lonely, practice self-motivation talks and relaxation techniques, like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing, to calm yourself down and find peace.

Take quality time to familiarize yourself with the new environment.

Exploring the new environment can be a way of keeping yourself busy and helping you feel comfortable and familiar with campus surroundings. Thus, take some time to explore the campus, town, or city. You can walk, visit local attractions, or try new foods. Besides, exploring can also be a great way to meet new people and make new friends as you get rid of homesick feelings.

Ask for professional assistance.

Homesickness can persist; when it does, it will interfere with your academic and social life, and getting professional help might be necessary. You can talk to a therapist or counselor to provide guidance and support.

You can also hire an online educator to help you with your study to cover the area you find challenging and behind. They will do homework for you and offer custom-made services to ensure you get the best.

Homesickness is a common experience among learners, but it doesn’t have to be a barrier to success. Following the coping strategies outlined above, students can overcome homesickness and thrive in college. Remember that adjusting to a new environment takes time; thus, be patient and care for yourself.