Ways to Handle Homesickness While Studying Abroad

With no doubt, studying abroad is an exciting and life-changing experience. It offers the opportunity to immerse oneself in new cultures, new environments, and a new academic life together. With the thrill of studying abroad, it becomes quite normal to miss family and friends in the home country. Being called homesickness, it is the feeling when one feels anxious, lonely, or has difficulty adjusting to a whole new environment in a foreign land. There are several strategies to navigate the ways to curb homesickness. Yes, you heard that right. Keep reading and exploring the ways to curb homesickness and make the most of your studies overseas. Conquering homesickness will enhance focus on appreciating the host country, university experiences, and opportunities towards a new life, growth, and creating new memories.

 

Ways to handle homesickness

1.  Have a daily routine. Creating a daily routine will help you cope with culture shock. You can reduce the amount of time you spend feeling homesick or lonely by being busy and productive. See if there's a park close by where you can carry on your daily routine of taking a walk and drinking coffee in the morning. If you used to do yoga before going to bed when you were at home, schedule some time to continue in your new environment. You can adjust to the new environment more easily if you schedule familiar activities into your daily routine. But it's equally critical to refrain from overworking yourself and repressing your feelings. It's healthy to keep busy, but it's also OK to recognise and deal with your emotions. Once you've, though, returned to your new regimen.

2.  Maintain contacts with loved ones: Even though it may be challenging at the start, it is crucial not to neglect relationships, especially family and friends. It is advised to maintain regular communication with loved ones when you are feeling down. Consider planning a trip to your home country during semester breaks or scheduling regular video calls to stay connected.

3.  Embrace new cultural experiences: Instead of dwelling on your life before moving abroad, try miming yourself in new surroundings and learning about the different cultures and customs around you. Getting familiar with your location can create a sense of belonging and diminish the feeling of homesickness. As the world has become internationalised, you might find similarities and common ground between your home country and the host country.

4.  Engage in extracurricular activities: During the challenging adjustment period, you might be reluctant to socialise, but taking part in community events can lift your spirits and help you meet new people. If you enjoyed a pastime at home, look for a group or organisation at your university that is similar to yours and join it. If not, think about establishing one yourself, since there might be people who are as passionate as you are. Make use of the many clubs and associations that colleges provide. You can meet people who have experienced culture shock by joining sports teams, interest groups, faith-based organisations, and even an international student society.

 

5.  Seek student support. In case you are feeling overwhelmed, reaching out to someone will be helpful. One can reach out to a friend who is also an international student, a professor, or a designated international representative. There will be many others who will volunteer support and assist in the needy times of international students. Universities are equipped with facilities that would help students with homesickness or feelings of sadness. They would offer or mentor counselling services at the time of need. It is advised to often connect with friends and family during the study abroad journey.

 

6.  Keep learning something new. Homesickness often leads to boredom and distraction. In order to combat the feelings, one can make efforts to engage in learning new things daily. This would keep the mind active and focused. Learn a new hobby, a new language, or a new sport. Also, there are options for taking cooking classes or learning traditional art and craft activities. Engaging in new experiences and gaining knowledge can help make the most of the time abroad and overcome homesickness.

 

7.  Spend some time with yourself. Even though it won't make your problems go away, spending thirty minutes in a quiet, alone space can be rather helpful. Find a quiet corner or unoccupied room, dim the lights, and take a moment to breathe deeply and unwind. Take this little break to help you feel calmer and more relaxed. As an alternative, escape the city and go to a picturesque spot like the beach or the mountains. By doing this, you'll be able to put technology aside and reflect on the reasons you chose to study abroad. A peaceful period of time spent away from the distractions of technology, reading a good book or diary, may be very restorative.

 

For further assistance or queries students can contact us, Edwise International and avail our wide range of services for students on destinations like Study in UK, Study in USA, Study in Canada, Study in Australia, Study in New-Zealand, Study in Singapore, Study in Ireland and many other countries.