Feeling Homesick? Ways to Combat Homesickness

Homesickness is a feeling we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Feeling homesick is entirely natural. In its most mild form, it can be just the feeling of a pit in your stomach, but in its most extreme, it can be debilitating -presenting itself in an acute experience of anxiety or emotional distress.

There are a variety of different factors that can lead to experiencing homesick symptoms. These include loneliness, confusion, difficulty adjusting to your new surroundings, a feeling of lack of control, culture shock, and so on. However, there are many things you can try to keep you excited and happy in your new adventure.

1. Self-care

Let Yourself Be Homesick

Letting yourself feel homesick is a big step in improving your overall well-being. Accepting you are in a new place and feeling scared or like you’re missing home is the first step to helping yourself feel better.

Keep Up Your Habits

When in a new place, keeping up your usual habits and doing the things you usually love will be an important step in finding your feet and your rhythm of living. Your usual way of life will help you feel more at home and in control of your life even if your external factors are different.

Create a Routine

Creating a routine is helpful in many facets of life, including stopping the feeling of missing home. Whether you want to keep your usual routine from home or create an entirely new one for your new home is up to you. However, creating a routine to follow will undoubtedly provide you with a sense of control and empowerment over your new way of living.

2. Connect With Others

Keep in Touch With Home

Keeping in touch with home can be both a blessing and a curse. It can serve as a reminder of what you’ve left or offer you the comfort to alleviate your homesickness. It truly is what you make it, but hearing about the events back home can easily bridge the distance in your mind.

Make New Friends

Jump at every chance to go out there and meet new people and make new connections. Finding friends in your new place will surely make you feel more at home and help you quash the feeling of needing to fly home to be surrounded by friendship. Saying yes to every invitation can also lead to some of the best experiences you might have otherwise missed.

3. Make a Home

Bring Home Comforts

Bringing things from home can be a great way to alleviate homesick symptoms. Maybe you brought your favourite brand of hot chocolate from home or some of your favourite books. Items that have followed you with your move are sure to bring you a feeling of connection.

Decorating Your Space

Decorating your room with pictures of your loved ones along with your new travels can help your house feel like a home and give you a safe and happy place to come home to.

4. Immerse Yourself

Explore Your New Surroundings

Exploring your new surroundings and immersing yourself in your new environment and culture is exciting. Finding out what your new home has to offer and falling in love with a new place will help with feeling homesick. Being excited to find and do new things will at least help your feelings of homesickness fade into the background.

Make Goals

Making plans and goals will have you looking forward rather than behind. Being excited about the future will no doubt have you wanting to stay in your new home.

Reach Out

Feeling down in a new place is normal. Reaching out to Healthcare Australia can help you feel supported and welcomed in your new country