Even though most won’t admit it, experiencing homesickness in college is quite common. On top of school work, extra-curricular activities, and the new responsibilities of adulthood, college students tend to feel homesick no matter how far they have traveled from home.
To feel homesick is completely natural. Thankfully, there is more than one way to cure your sickness.
1. Go out on the town.
If your school is in or near the city, check out what there is to do! Even if it’s not, there are likely still many activities and free events for you to check out.
If you’re going to be there for a few years, you might as well get to know your surroundings. Chances are, there will be plenty of events to attend and new sights to take in. You might even learn a thing or two outside the classroom!
If when your friends and family come to visit you, you’ll already know the best places to hit! You’ll be able to share things that make the city unique. Everyone loves to explore!
2. Try new things.
As a college student, you’re bound to meet people with different interests. Try a new activity; it could turn into something you absolutely love. And who knows, maybe you’ll even meet some new people.
Try that new Vietnamese restaurant down the street or that new comedy club around the corner. Maybe when you do go back home, you can share your new interests with your loved ones and can get them excited about it too.
Here are a few new things that we’ve tried (and loved) that got us out of our comfort zones:
1. Roller derby
3. Fun runs
4. Volunteering
3. Let’s get physical.
Get the endorphins flowing! Besides the gym, try walking the long way to class, baking without an electric mixer, or paint your room a new color. You can even try walking your dog to a new park or cleaning your room. Being physical can clear your head and might even bring you new ideas.
Try this: How To Find Your Fitness as a Non-Athlete
4. Call home.
We live in a generation where technology is currently at its highest. Make the time to talk to your loved ones, whether it’s through texting, Facebook, Facetime, or Skype. Something simple as picking up the phone can relieve your homesickness in a matter of seconds.
You might like: Why Calling Home Is Still Important
The possibilities are endless! Other ways to cope with homesickness are to read a book for fun that takes you out of your environment, hop on Netflix to binge on your favorite movies, get in the spirit at a sporting event, get silly at karaoke night, write down your feelings in a journal, or volunteer your time for a cause that’s important to you.
Just remember that being homesick is completely normal. You’re in an environment you’re not familiar with it’s overwhelming: that’s okay. Remember to make the best out of it knowing your friends and family are there to support you. Change is scary, but it’s worth it and you will grow so much from the experience.
About the Author
Abbygail is a psychology and communications major at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She enjoys writing, baking, movies, eating, and traveling. She hopes to one day go into Corporate Communications or become a Social Psychologist.