Homesickness refers to the feeling of distress and loneliness when you are away from home or in some unfamiliar environment. Undoubtedly, studying abroad is a whole new and exciting experience, but at the same time, it comes with a lot of new challenges which you have to tackle alone. Staying away a thousand miles from your family might give you a hard time especially in the starting months or years, but gradually as time passes, you will get hold of it. Some of the symptoms of homesickness include agony, frustrating behavior, headache, feeling angry, loneliness, and anxiety. There are many other symptoms that are subjective to different students.
Here are some of the ways to handle homesickness while studying abroad:
Whether you have your classes or a holiday, plan your whole day accordingly. Sitting idle and wasting your day at home can make you feel stressed when you are already feeling homesick. Instead, you can:
- Go out and plan a coffee date with yourself
- Watch a movie
- Cook something for yourself
- Pamper yourself by applying face masks and vibing to songs
- Go for a long walk
- Explore the city you are living in
Having a whole day planned and keeping yourself busy will make you feel better.
Making a routine and sticking to it will help you a lot if you are dealing with homesickness. If you are living in a different country, routines are something you will need the most to get out of your comfort zones. Routines do not only mean following a rigid and strict schedule but starting by waking up at a specific time and going to bed at a specific time.
- Video Call your Friends and Family
Technology has always proved to be a savior at all times. If you are missing your loved ones and feel lonely, video calls your siblings, parents, or friends. Talking to them will make you feel good and loved even if you are miles away from them. You will get a sense of belongingness while talking to them and won’t feel isolated.
Whenever you feel lonely or homesick, and you don’t have anyone to talk to, start journaling your thoughts. It will help you in improving your mood and de-stress your mind. It will make you feel better and declutter your mind, making you feel better and positive. Moreover, journaling will help you bring positivity and eliminate negative thoughts and affirmations.
Chatting and interacting with different people will help you in opening up. You will find a lot of like-minded people who will make it easier for you to share whatever you’re feeling and you will get rid of loneliness. Interacting with people who are also feeling the same as you, will help you take out your bottled-up thoughts and feelings.
- Send Letters and Postcards to your Family/Friends
Expressing your feelings and emotions through letters or postcards would be helpful to take out your thoughts. No doubt, it is an old way to express emotions, but who doesn't like it? It is always better to pen them down and post them, rather than texting or emailing.
Homesickness usually happens when moving abroad for your studies. So, to get rid of it, you should focus more on the purpose of your going abroad and exploring the city and the country. If you are in a multicultural city like Sharda University, you will feel less homesick. The university has citizens from various countries, which gives you options to explore. Make sure you find time for your family and your loved ones to stay connected. Do not forget to pamper yourself amidst all the work, study, and daily routine.
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