How to Best Deal with Homesickness While Studying Abroad
5 Ways to Overcome Homesickness While Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is a time filled with many emotions. It’s first and foremost an exciting time as you think about all the new places you will visit, the people you will meet, and all of the new things you will experience.
It can also be a little nerve-racking as you think about all of the unknowns and the many preparations you need to make. It can be a time of both sadness and happiness as you think about saying good-bye to your family and friends. But, then you will say hello to a potentially life-changing experience.
One thing that may not have crossed your mind is how you’re going to deal with homesickness while studying abroad. You might think that you will be gone for such a short time. And you’ll be too busy experiencing new things to feel homesick.
However, that’s not true for the majority of people. Try asking people who have studied abroad. There are periods of down time, and you will probably see things that remind you of home.
It’s good to think about what you can do to properly handle that emotion, so you will continue to enjoy your time overseas. What are some helpful ways to deal with homesickness while studying abroad? Find out below.
Why People Experience Homesickness
Homesickness is incredibly common, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s actually a positive thing because it means there are people back home you miss. And you enjoy at least a portion of your life wherever you call home.
In general, homesickness is caused by separation between you and the people or places you love. You may not be completely comfortable in your new location, and it’s natural to want familiarity. It’s the feeling you get when there’s a disconnect between the comfort you want and discomfort you’re experiencing.
The truth is that you are probably going to experience homesickness while studying abroad. It may last a few days or several weeks, depending on your situation.
But, don’t let it ruin this amazing experience. The best thing you can do is to be prepared so you can have strategies to help you handle it effectively. Below are five tips to help you prepare.
Schedule A Healthy Amount of Communication Back Home
The first thing we recommend you do is to plan a healthy amount of communication with family and friends back home. It’s not wise to never talk to people back home, but it’s also not wise to talk to them every day.
Hearing too much about what is going on at home will make you miss it more. It’ll also take you away from meeting new people, seeing new places, and enjoying your experience.
But, it’s important to keep up the relationship with your close family and friends. You can share some of your highs and lows with the people you love most.
Plan on talking periodically, but try to avoid becoming dependent on them. This may mean you talk to them once a week or so. But, it will vary depending on your situation and family dynamics.
Find Activities To Keep You Busy
Another idea is to not spend too much time in your room. The more time you have alone to sit and think about missing home, the more you will actually miss home.
Try to get out to meet new people, stay active, and see the city. You can join campus organizations, study groups, or just go to a coffee shop with some friends.
Find a healthy routine that keeps you moving. Staying busy will help you get the most out of your experience as well as keep your mind off home.
Go Exploring and Visit New Places
A third strategy to deal with homesickness while studying abroad is related to the previous one. Make it a priority to travel around the country or even continent.
For most people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ll probably never have this much free time or freedom to travel again. International travel becomes much more difficult once you are employed full-time and have a family or other major responsibilities.
We promise you won’t regret spending the time and money to see places you may never see again. Plus, it will keep your mind occupied.
Take a lot of pictures and videos. You can share these experiences with your loved ones when you return!
Talk About Your Feelings
Being willing to be honest about your feelings and share your struggles with others will help. This may be difficult for you, but it will help you process and work through your emotions. You’re not the only one who is or has experienced homesickness, so plenty of others will be able to relate.
You can also journal if you don’t have anyone you feel like you can trust. Journaling is another helpful strategy to process what you’re experiencing. We recommend you try it for a week to see if it brings relief.
Make Your Place Feel Like Home
You can bring things from your house and put them around your room or house to make it feel more like home. Bring decorations, pictures, and other keepsakes that will be visual reminders to comfort you.
The above suggestions should help you when missing loved ones. But in case that’s not enough, here are some other helpful tips on how to deal with homesickness while studying abroad.
Don’t Forget This When Traveling!
Before you study abroad, you need to purchase travel health insurance. Most universities require it, and it’s an incredibly wise investment.
If you decide to take advantage of the opportunity and travel, then please do so wisely. If you leave the country where you are studying abroad, then your insurance policy will probably no longer be valid.
You may need another short-term travel insurance policy to cover you during your adventures. The good news is that the plan is only about $1/day, and it can also cover adventure sports. We have plenty of affordable plans to give you peace of mind, so you can enjoy your travels.
We sincerely hope your study abroad experience is one of the best experiences of your life! One way to ensure this happens is by purchasing travel medical insurance.
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Good Neighbor Insurance has been insuring students studying abroad for over 27 years! Every one of our internationally trained and licensed insurance agents has a heart to serve you, our guests.
It’s a joy to know that we can provide you peace of mind with one of our many international student insurance options to safeguard from financial calamity. And we will provide you with the best overseas medical care during your studies and travels.
Please call one of our licensed agents at 480-813-9100 if you have any questions or would like to purchase a plan. You may also reach us via email at [email protected].
We thank you for giving us the privilege of serving you as you fulfill your dreams! We hope you enjoy your experience studying abroad, wherever that may be!
