How to Get Over Being Homesick
Going to university can be quite exciting and scary at the same time, a situation which can be made worse by feelings of homesickness. Now, don't get me wrong, these feelings may kick in straight away (like they did for me) or take a bit longer, everyone is different. Leaving home may be a breath of fresh air for you, meaning you might not feel homesick at all, and that would be awesome! But just in case you do feel like that from time to time, here are some tips for overcoming feelings of homesickness.
Don't spend loads of time on your own
It can be so easy to shut yourself away from the rest of the university world, but this is actually one of the worst things you can do when trying to feel less homesick. Go out, make some new friends, get to know a new city and get a head start on some uni work - anything to make your mind off home (in the nicest way possible). Your parents aren't going to be happy if they find out you've been moping in your room the whole time feeling sad! Go and make some memories, then you'll be able to tell your family all about it when you see them next, giving you something to look forward to :)
Bring some home comforts
You may find it helpful to bring something with you of sentimental value, that has come directly from your home or bedroom in the family house. Many people bring soft toys or certain ornaments, there are others who would prefer to bring photographs in their original frames or personal letters from family members or friends. It's a great tactic, because even though you aren't at home, you can bring a bit of home with you, and look at it or hold it with nothing but fondness and love.
Do your best to stay positive
I know it's hard to be happy and optimistic when you're missing family and friends from home. So much so, you almost feel guilty for having a good time. I started feeling homesick almost immediately after my parents left me, resulting in me crying in my bathroom as opposed to meeting my new flat mates (an experience you can read more about here and here, just in case you were at all interested). But once you start to meet new people and get involved with different activities, you'll soon start to feel more excited as opposed to sad or apprehensive. It's meant to be a bitter-sweet experience, so don't worry if you're having mixed feelings to begin with, it's all completely normal :)
Keep in touch...but not too much!
It's natural to want to stay in your room all day chatting with your parents on the phone or via Skype, but actually, regular contact can be doing more harm than good. Perhaps, for at least the first month or so, you should limit contact to once every two weeks. You need to learn to get through the week on your own, mainly as part of the experience. The odd text every now and again is fine, but don't be skipping classes or missing trips to the pub to get a few more hours of family Skype time. Once you're used to being away from home and your family, then you can start upping the amount of contact you have with them. It may seem like a bit of tough love, but trust me, it helps!
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I hope you found this post useful. Starting uni can be a weird experience, but your family don't want you to spend countless days and several hours cooped up in your room talking to them. Get the most out of your time there, especially within the first few weeks. Homesickness will pass, but hopefully, these little bits of advice will help!
I will see you next time with a brand new blog post :)
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