16 Dec Tips for Homesickness

Living and studying abroad can be really overwhelming, especially at this time of year with midterms and the introduction of slightly more depressing weather. These factors can lead people to experience homesickness – which is perfectly normal. This post gives some tips on what to do if and when you begin to miss home and the people there. 

1. Facetime a friend or family member

In our day and age, it’s very easy to catch up on our friends’ lives – and vice versa – via Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. However, there really is nothing quite like a chat with your best friend or a catch up with your parents. Luckily, we have the technology ‘Face-Time’ which allows us to speak to them instantly – this can really help boost your mood! Just be sure to check the time difference between here and home! 

• Take yourself on a date in the city

Sometimes keeping busy is the best way to avoid personal feelings of sadness. Luckily there is so much to do here in San Francisco to help with this. Hop on a muni and take yourself into the city to see the sea lions, or pack a bag and head to the beach, or go vintage shopping in the Haight-Ashbury! Whatever your preference, I’m sure there’s something you can do to take your mind of things. 

• Speak to someone here

While speaking to someone form home can help aid instant homesickness and sadness, it’s not a great long-term solution for these feelings. I would also recommend talking to someone here; fellow students are probably dealing with similar emotions and can offer a friendly hug or helpful advice. Further to this, be sure to check out all the helpful wellbeing services on Campus. 

• Look forward to things – plan something! 

Something that really helps me tackle feelings of homesickness is planning trips or meet ups with friends. Whether that be things to do when you get home, e.g. a wine night with your oldest school friends or new adventures here, e.g. a trip to Yosemite with your housemates – it’s a great way to take your mind of something quite sad and channel it into something exciting! 

• Take a breath and remember where you are and why you are here 

Finally, remember it’s totally normal to be homesick! Be sure to be kind to yourself and slow things down when you are feeling overwhelmed – take a couple of deep breaths and take some time to think about why you are here and what you want to achieve from this year. But also think about how far you’ve already come and what you’ve already achieved.