Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Prepare to go
• Method 2 of 4: Adjust to your new location
• Method 3 of 4: Reduce homesickness
• Method 4 of 4: Reduce stress

Homesickness is a feeling we have all had. Research has shown that about 70% of people have been homesick at some point in their life. Homesickness can occur when you have left home to study or are away for a short period of time, such as for a summer camp. It can also happen to you during a long-term stay abroad, such as when you go to study in another country. There are several ways to avoid homesickness, and to reassure yourself when you get homesick while on the road.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Prepare to go

1. Know that homesickness is completely normal. By knowing a little more about homesickness, you can gain insight into how common it is for people to miss their home. You will feel a lot less tense or embarrassed about missing home knowing that this is a completely normal experience.
2. Familiarize yourself with the place you want to go. According to one study, boys who went to summer camp were less homesick if they were prepared for the experience and were familiar with the environment in which they would end up. To avoid homesickness, it is a good idea to view maps, photos, or other materials from that place. This will help you become familiar with that environment when you are there. You can always ask someone who has been there to describe the daily routine or activities you can expect.
   • If possible, you could plan in advance to pay a visit with family or friends to the place you will be going.
3. Make plans for when you arrive at your new destination. When you are aware of some of the habits and activities at the new location, you will feel a bit more relaxed about it. The experience will be a bit more famous, which will reduce the chances of you getting homesick. One study found that vigorous training and purposeful social interactions while away can help stave off feelings of homesickness.
   • Once you arrive at your new destination, make it a habit to exercise regularly and look for opportunities to meet other people. Before you leave, make a plan detailing when and where you will train and move socially.
4. Bring something from home. Sometimes homesickness can be tricky because you never know when it will hit, or when you see, hear, or smell something that reminds you of home. To help yourself make those moments easier, it can be nice to bring a piece of home with you.
   • For example, bring your favorite book, your slippers or a photo, to put you at ease when you get homesick. These things can make you feel closer to home.

Method 2 of 4: Adjust to your new location

1. Start making new contacts. It is important to find a balance between being in touch with your home and working on building a new circle of friends and acquaintances where you are. Start conversations with people who seem interesting to you. This could be someone in your student house or a student taking the same courses.
   • The first days or weeks of your college, summer camp, or study abroad can be a great opportunity to make new friends. Take the opportunity because you are not the only new person attending.
   • If you are studying or working in another country, you can go to the local consulate, an expatriate association or an international group in college to look for people who are also far from home. Talking to people who share the same experience about feeling unhappy can help.
   • Consider starting a hobby or joining a club. Or volunteer with a local nonprofit. These are great ways to find people who have the same interests as you.
   • Sticking with one foot in your old house or environment can make it more difficult for yourself to achieve your goals in the new place, or make new contacts and make new friends more difficult.
2. Stick to your old habits and routines. Sometimes when we are away from home, we change our daily routines and even our habits. These kinds of changes can make the new environment even stranger. To help prevent such big changes, keep following some of the habits you are familiar with in the new place.
   • For example, if you left home to study and miss Chinese food on Tuesday with your family, try setting this day with your roommates or new friends. Or if you are at camp and have certain habits that you always do before going to bed, stick to this routine. Routines like this often provide structure and familiarity, so try to fit some of them into your new environment.
3. Explore your new location. Go outside with your camera or smartphone. A camera can be a great way to see your new location in a different light. By keeping your mind active and focused on your new environment, you can divert your attention from your homesickness. It's also a great way to document your experiences while away from home.
4. Immerse yourself in the local culture. To get the most out of your experience, especially when you are abroad, you will have to step out of your safe cocoon to gain new experiences.
   • For example, try out new foods. Food is often the element that most defines a culture. Trying the native food and looking for something the locals eat that you like too can go a long way towards making you feel more at home in your new place.
   • Go to cultural events. Even if your university is only in a different province, you can soak up the various cultural events that you may not have in your own place.
5. Avoid the negative effects of culture shock. Culture shock involves confusion, doubt, or nervousness caused by the new place. This can particularly affect people living in a new country, but it can also happen if someone from a rural environment goes to study in a city. The trick is not to let it take you by surprise. Especially if you are living abroad, you can try the following strategies to recover from culture shock:
   • Learn the rules of life in your host country. Try to understand how and why people there behave the way they do. Their behaviors and habits may differ from your own, but are likely typical of the environment.
   • Take the time to learn the language. It always helps to understand as much as possible of what the people are saying. They will appreciate the effort you put in communicating with them in their language, even if it is just a few simple sentences, and it will make your day-to-day life much easier.
   • Approach the experience with a positive attitude and an open mind. By approaching your experience as an adventure, you may be able to make it a more enjoyable experience.

Method 3 of 4: Reduce homesickness

1. Stay in contact. Sometimes it can help to see or hear a familiar face to make you feel like your home is not very far away. Make sure to schedule to call or Skype with friends and family once you've gone. Talking to friends and family can help keep up with what's going on at home so you don't feel like life goes on without you.
   • In addition, maintaining contact can help you feel less isolated, which can easily happen if you are feeling homesick,
2. Keep a positive action journal. This diary is a place where you can keep track of all the positive experiences you have in your new place. This can be a great cure if you are moody. Keeping track of those things that made you smile will be a great reminder of the positive aspects of your new home.
   • You can also use a journal to work on how to put a positive spin on your negative emotions. For example, you could say to yourself, "I'm going to find new ways to make myself feel like I fit in here."
3. Work on a positive way to talk to yourself. Repeat positive and constructive phrases to yourself to dispel negative feelings. Remember, what we think of ourselves can dramatically affect how we feel. Try phrases like, "Other people care about me" or "Everyone feels lonely at times."
4. Understand that this adjustment takes time. Be realistic about how quickly you can make the transition from your home to your new environment. If you moved out to study, it can take an entire first semester to make new contacts before you feel more comfortable in the new place. Give yourself enough time to adjust.
   • It can be useful to use a calendar to write down or outline your adjustment goals within a certain period of time. This can help you to be fully aware of the time it will take you so that you don't have unrealistic expectations or become disappointed.

Method 4 of 4: Reduce stress

1. Keep going. Exercise is a well-known way to reduce stress because it sends the message to the body that powerful neurotransmitters can be produced in the brain that can make you feel good, improve your mood, and reduce homesickness stress. Homesickness can often go hand in hand with sadness or loneliness. Regular exercise can help improve your overall mood.
   • In addition, keeping a regular workout schedule can help structure your schedule in the new place, and if you're exercising in a gym or outside, it can be a great way to get to know other people.
2. Make time for things that you enjoy. Making time for yourself, and especially time for the things you enjoy, is a good way to reduce stress. ,
   • Listen to your favorite music or watch a movie. You can even take the time to read one of your favorite books. Allowing yourself time to relax is essential for coping with the stress of a new place and homesickness. Some other easy ways to relax include taking a bubble bath, treating yourself to a pedicure, or watching a sports game.
3. Take care of your body. Taking the time to take care of yourself is a great way to relieve stress. Insufficient nutrition and lack of sleep can be stressful events for your body. This will not help you further if you are already experiencing the stress associated with the changes of moving to a new place.
   • Make sure you get enough sleep, so about eight hours a night.
   • Ensure adequate nutrition by eating fruits, vegetables, protein and complex carbohydrates. It can be tempting to eat unhealthy foods such as fast food, sweets or soft drinks when you are under stress. But try to avoid this form of dealing with the situation, as it will only bother you in the long run.
4. Make an appointment with a psychological counselor. Severe homesickness can be incredibly stressful, and even feel like you are grieving. You may also experience mood swings, frequent crying, fear, panic attacks and feelings of helplessness. If you feel like your homesickness has turned into a more serious condition, or if the duration, frequency, or severity of the case has gotten worse, seek the help of a knowledgeable psychotherapist.
   • Counselors can help you overcome your homesickness in a way that is akin to recovering from other forms of loss or grief.And because moving out keeps certain needs you have not being met, such as helping you make decisions or organizing and structuring your day, a counselor can help you find the resources you need to learn these skills. Then you can fill in some of these needs yourself.
   • Keep track of your feelings for a week or two. If you notice that you often have to cry or suffer from panic attacks, just to name an example, then it is wise to seek professional help.