Although it’s only a few weeks into the semester, students are still adjusting to college life and starting to develop homesickness. Now, whether you’re from hours and hours away or you’re from twenty minutes north, homesickness can still affect you. Below are five tips to help you conquer your homesickness.
1. Call your family and friends. If you think you’re going to seem lame and uncool for calling your parents or high school friends every now and then, you’re wrong. Just get that thought out of your head now. Even though it may look like no one else is, they are. And if you don’t want to go through the hassle of making an actual phone call, shoot them a text (only if dear old mom and dad are text-fluent and can actually work a cell phone).
2. Get involved in clubs and activities. If you just sit around your dorm building in all your free time, you’re going to think about home, make yourself upset, and never leave your room. That’ll lead to missing out on so many experiences and opportunities in college. You don’t have to join tons of clubs, just a couple here and there. You could try out Mixed Martial Arts club, Musical Theatre club, Psychology club, Swing Dance lessons, Quidditch, Hula Hoop club, Her Campus (wink, wink) or anything else. Honestly, there’s a club or activity for everyone.
3. Make new friends. I’m not saying to forget your friends back home, but because you all will be spread out at different colleges, hanging out will be tough. Don’t become closed off to new ideas and new people here at college, because some of the people you meet here will become lifelong friends. Plus, they help you not mope around in your dorm room all the time.
4. Don’t be afraid to go home. Like the first point I made, don’t think it’s lame to go home every once in a while. You don’t have to go home every week; just set a schedule for yourself. Personally, I have a schedule of going home at least once a month to see my parents and family.
5. Talk to somebody. We were told within the first week of classes that if we were feeling homesick to talk to someone around us. You don’t want to bottle up your emotions, and talking about it will help. You can talk to a counselor, which was recommended, or even a close friend. Do whatever will make you more comfortable.