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.
