With the start of a new academic year, homesickness usually follows close behind, not only for freshers who might be moving away from home for the very first time, but for all of us – homesickness doesn’t have an expiration date. In fact, adults suffering from homesickness is rather common, which is why we at HerCampus are gonna bring you some tips on how to handle feeling homesick.
1. Understand that homesickness is normal
Studies show that up to 70% of students experience homesickness at one time or another, so part of dealing with it is by acknowledging that being homesick is completely normal. It doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong choice moving away from home to go to university somewhere else, or that you’re not fitting in with your new environment or finding new friends. Being homesick definitely doesn’t make you “too emotional” and it shouldn’t be something you’re ashamed of, and many people before you have experienced the same thing.
2. Seek support from the student community
One resource students should consider, other than consulting Student Services, is St. Andrews Nightline, which offers chat and phone services while remaining completely confidential. If you need a place to vent and someone to talk to who isn’t directly involved with you, Nightline is definitely an option you should consider. At the same time, talking to your friends is a good way to help with your homesickness if you’re comfortable enough to be open with them. Giving a voice to your thoughts and feelings is the first step towards knowing how to deal with them.
3. Find a reminder of home
Homesickness is unpredictable – sometimes the smallest thing can trigger it, from someone’s turn of phrase to hearing your mom’s favorite song, but small things can also help you in overcoming homesickness. Keeping small reminders of home with you can serve as your touchstone, whether it’s through displaying photos of family and friends all over your wall or having a familiar keepsake with you in your room. A reminder of home is a reminder that home will always be with you and you’ll never be leaving it behind – and holidays will be just around the corner before you know it!
4. Keep in contact with family and friends
One of the things I worried about the most before I moved to St. Andrews last year as a Fresher was whether or not I’d be able to keep my friendships and relationships with my family going long-distance, or if I’d end up falling out of in touch with most of them after missed texts and rescheduled Skype calls. I learned a lot of things about friendships and family – that relationships with people aren’t dependent on the amount of time we spend together, that as long as you want to stay close and keep in touch with someone and put in the effort, you will, and that some relationships aren’t destined to last, and maybe that’s a good thing. Some people come and go, and the best thing we can do is treasure the time that we’ve spent with them. But in dealing with homesickness, putting in that effort to keep in touch with family and friends that you’ve perhaps been neglecting in the busy rush of the first week back can be really helpful. It serves as a reminder of home, while also showing you that moving away doesn’t mean that you’ve lost the people that made home special, and that you can make new friends while still cherishing your old friends.
At the same time, still make sure that you aren’t spending too much time calling and text back home in an effort to avoid your homesickness – it’s all about balance, and soon you’ll find yourself settled in, homesickness far behind you :)