It’s getting to that time of the year again. We have been at school for an extended period of time, yet the closest vacation is still around a month off. Because of this, the number of students experiencing homesickness (freshmen or otherwise) is increasing. Luckily, there are numerous ways to help deal with this homesickness. Here are a few of them:
1. Keep busy
Oftentimes, homesickness hits us the hardest when we have nothing to focus on. Therefore, it would only make sense that when we are busy and don’t have time to think about missing home, the homesickness can’t affect us as badly. Luckily, living in the city presents us with tons of opportunities to keep busy, even if that means just walking down Newbury Street.
2. Talk to someone
When you are feeling down, I find that it helps to put those feelings into words and have a conversation with someone. When you are feeling sad, it’s nice to know that someone sympathizes with you and understands what you are going through because, chances are, you are not the only one who is missing home. If you are uncomfortable talking to a peer about your feelings, the Health and Wellness Center always has people available to talk if needed.
3. Go outside
Nothing makes you feel worse than just sitting in your room and wallowing in your sadness. By getting dressed and getting some fresh air, you might actually feel better. And, who knows, maybe you will find something exciting outside that will make you not miss home as much.
4. Have family/friends plan a visit
While this is not always feasible due to the crazy price of plane tickets, sometimes having your family or a friend come to visit really does help. Instead of giving in to the homesickness and going home, which can oftentimes make it worse, having a visitor will give you something to look forward to in the more immediate future.