Thanksgiving break flew by this year – well, at least it did for me. I was very excited to go home because I had been missing my family, my dogs, my room, and my friends. Going back and seeing all of them made me realize how much I missed home. Last year, I had a pretty strong case of homesickness and I learned a few tips to help manage it.
One of the best things you can do when dealing with homesickness is just pick up the phone and call home. Sometimes just hearing a familiar voice can really help with these feelings. Better yet, call them on video calls, like FaceTime or Skype, that way you actually get to see them.
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For me, it’s great to be able to see my family and friends over FaceTime – it makes me feel as if I am a lot closer to them. Sometimes my family even brings my dogs up to the camera, which is always heartwarming.
Another thing you can do is pick up hobbies that can take your mind off of your homesickness. I started doing SoulCycle and going on runs. I noticed that when I was active I did not pay much attention to my homesickness, so it was not as bad. It was also helpful to join clubs at BU. This allowed me to meet new people and establish roots here. Establishing roots in Boston is very important because this allows you to start viewing it as your home as well.
Another tip is to just talk to someone you trust. It really helps me to talk to my roommate or my friends about how I am feeling. Not only do they comfort me, but it is also nice to just air out my feelings. Sometimes carrying around all these emotions can feel as if we are carrying around a huge weight. Talking about them sometimes feels as if we are letting go of that weight and we feel lighter.
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Last but not least, there are resources on campus that can help. Student Health Services offers a wide variety of resources, including therapy. If you think you would benefit from talking with a professional, you should take advantage of this great resource. Remember – everyone misses home and feeling this way is totally normal.
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