The transition of moving to college is a big one! It’s the first time you live on your own, surrounded by a lot of strangers. It’s definitely an exciting time, but it can feel lonely being away from your family, friends and hometown. Luckily, I have found a few ways to overcome these challenging emotions.
1. Accept your feelings and remember you’re not alone!
It’s so tough not to get caught up in social media, especially when you see high school friends posting pictures, making themselves appear well adjusted to college life. Don’t forget that social media doesn’t show you the whole picture! Homesickness is a lot more common than you might think. According to a survey on first-year college students, 66 percent of them reported experiencing severe homesickness. When you’re feeling ashamed of missing home, remember the majority of first-year students are feeling the same way!
2. Keep yourself busy!
One of the best things about freshman year is that everyone is in the same boat looking to make new friends. You’re offered so many unique opportunities to attend events that’ll allow you to meet new people. Getting involved on campus and checking out these events helps you stay busy, which keeps your mind off of missing your home and gives you a chance to branch out.
3. Talk to your family members!
Call your mom! Call someone in your family and just chat about your day. If you can’t call, at least text someone. I’ve found keeping a connection with my family members while I am away helps ease my homesickness. I was definitely more likely to feel homesick on the days when I didn’t get a chance to talk to someone in my family.
4. Explore your new city and campus!
Florida State is such a great campus, and it’s refreshing to walk around exploring all of its beauty! When I first moved to Tallahassee (I was lucky enough to have a car) so my roommate and I would drive around and discover fun places around the city. Just taking a walk or a drive to familiarize yourself with your new home can make this big change much easier to process.
5. Make a schedule and stick to it!
It is essential to develop good habits when you start living on your own for the first time. Having a rough weekly schedule helps you stay organized and motivated. Adjusting to a college timeline can be tricky. You suddenly have so much extra time, it can become overwhelming. Planning your days reduces the stress of making a bunch of choices and minimizes the free time that might lead to homesick feelings. I loved having a set day to treat myself (aka Whataburger Wednesdays), and this gave me something fun to look forward to each week!
6. Take a weekend trip home!
I know not everyone has the luxury of going home for the weekend, but I highly suggest doing it if you’re able to. Sometimes the only way to combat those feelings of homesickness is hugging a loved one. Never feel ashamed about taking a trip home! During freshman year, sometimes there’s pressure to prove you can live on your own but visiting home doesn’t mean you aren’t capable of living independently.
My Freshman year homesickness allowed me to appreciate my hometown and family on a deeper level. It’s a year full of adjusting but being away from home gets better with time. Once you get into the groove of classes and hanging out with friends, you’ll feel at ease with your new home away from home. My bottom-line advice is to never feel like you’re alone in these feelings and never feel ashamed about missing home. College is about finding what makes you happy!
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