How to overcome homesickness

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1525250528961{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] Moving abroad or travelling for a lengthy time can be exciting at first but once you settle down you may start feeling slightly homesick. Working abroad and travelling can be very challenging in a number of ways that goes beyond not being able to adapt to the local culture. Homesickness symptoms may vary from person to person but in general the feeling can leave you upset, distressed isolated or lonely. It may be simple things like missing sleeping in your bed and feeling nostalgic for your home and old environment. Homesickness can affect people of all ages in almost any situation so it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. for some the pain of missing the lives left behind is so great that people quit their jobs and return back home.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Homesickness doesn’t have one specific cause but can arise due to many reasons such as difficulty adjusting to a new environment, feeling lonely or cut off from your regular support system, confusion or problems understanding a new environment/culture/language, a perceived lack of control over what’s happening around you, culture shock, and so on. You can’t get over homesickness over night, it’s something you need to work on for a while. Once the horrible feeling leaves you you’ll see everything in a much more positive life and you’ll adapt much better.

Here are a few ways to help you overcome your homesickness:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Take the things you love” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:20px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Taking some familiar things with you from home when you are off to travel can help ease your feelings of homesickness. Things with high sentimental or cultural value such as photos of family or an item that is tied to your identity or culture can make you feel connected to your home even when you’re away. It may not even have to be something physical, maybe listening to your old local radio station will make you feel home again. Having said this it’s important to balance the old with the new, you can’t be surrounded by all your old familiar things, it’ important for you to adjust to your new environment too.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”17333″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Go Exploring” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Don’t stay all cooped up in your apartment in fear of the unknown outside, go out and explore your new area. Go to the most popular sites ad attractions to get to know your city better. Indulge yourself in the local culture and learn about the history right away. Then once you have a good feel of the place being to find your favourite spots and start mixing in with the local community, find a good park to go jogging, or start being a regular at your favourite local restaurant.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”17334″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Do some things you loved to do at home” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Research has shown that doing things you feel nostalgic about can help you make feel better. Tradition and rituals can help foster a sense of connection to your home even when you’re far away. This can be anything from eating your favourite foods from home, otherwise known as comfort food eating familiar foods from your childhood or culture can help make you feel much happier. If you follow religious traditions then participate in them in your new area. Research shows that people who have a religious background feel less homesick when they participate in those traditions in your new home. Try finding the local place of worship and you may also meet others who share the same faith that can help you to adjust. Find some similar activities to do, if you were part of a book club at home then do some research and don’t be shy to find something similar in your new area.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Make your new home a home” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Your physical home is sometimes what makes you feel nostalgic or homesick so instead of treating your place as a temporary place of stay, start building it as your home away from home. Turning your new home into something that you’re more comfortable with will help improve your feeling of control over your environment. Spend a little time an money into making you’re place feel more comfortable. Start conversing with the neighbours and do whatever it takes for this new scary place to feel like your second home.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”17332″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Take a break from social media” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Our lives now revolve around social media so this one may be a little tricky but it may also be the most important tip. Social media has made it really easy to stay up to date with what everyone is doing, what they’re eating and where they’re hanging out. This may actually make your homesickness worse, instead of following people’s every move focus on finding places of your own that you may want to share. Sure you’re friends are all hanging pout and having fun but chances are they probably can’t wait to see what you’re up to as well. Limit yourself to a certain time on social media each day and make sure you contribute as much as you consume so you don’t feel so left out.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Get out of your comfort zone” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”22px”][vc_column_text]Be brave! Often feeling shy and awkward can be a common side effect of homesickness. You need to take risks otherwise you’ll miss out on experiences that could have helped you adjust to your new environment. If you feel to shy then give yourself manageable goals such as talking to at least one new person and building your confidence like this. After some time you will feel a lot more comfortable socialising.

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