The transition to college can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. While college students feel the excitement and freedom of being away from home, they can also experience considerable homesickness. It is the tendency to feel grief or loss because you are away from your home or loved ones. Being homesick during the first few weeks in college is quite common, with evidence showing that more than 60 percent of college students feel homesick at some stage during their time on campus. This article summarizes a few tips for college students on how to deal with homesickness.
- Understand That the Feelings Are Normal
One of the best strategies to cope with homesickness is to prepare yourself mentally by understanding the feeling are normal and will likely go away with time. Thousands of other students struggle with similar feelings, mostly caused by being separated from their friends and familiar surroundings. The more you socialize with people in college and find new hobbies and interests, the less you feel homesick.
We know how isolating dealing with homesickness on your own can feel. When you know you are not the only one struggling with homesickness, coping will be much easier. You can talk about your feelings with others and get assistance whenever needed.
- Seek Help If You Need It
You need to understand that you are not the only person struggling to adjust to college life. Thousands of other people are going through a hard time, and help is always available. Take advantage of the resources available at your university, including counseling services. You can ask a staff member or advisor to explain where you can go for support.
You can also ask the career office to help you choose your major and get a tutor. When it comes to assignments, there is no need to panic. Everyone finds college projects intimidating at first. The good news is that you can easily engage a professional research paper writer to help with some of your assignments.
- Get Out of Your Room and Visit the Outdoors
Many students choose to remain indoors and confined within the comforts of their rooms when dealing with homesickness. However, evidence shows that students need to interact with their peers to overcome emotional and mental health problems. Interacting with others will help you understand that you are not the only one struggling with college.
Also, attending classes and getting out to do things, even if it means going out for a walk, will help eliminate your feelings of sadness and depression. You should also use the chance outdoors to meet others and get involved on campus.
According to research findings, the psychological response to being in nature is real and measurable. A recent study found that going outdoors helps students improve their physical wellness. Going out and interacting with others gives you chances to be active and can improve your motivation.
Going out and interacting with friends will benefit your mental health and enhance your capability to cope with homesickness and other challenges. According to experts, a major component of mental health is social connection. The outdoors offers a venue for people to come together with friends and coursemates and connect with the college community.
- Keep Your Room Organized and Personalized
Personalizing and organizing your room is another essential tip for overcoming homesickness. One of the main reasons people feel homesick is that they miss the familiarity of their homes. Other than allowing you to become more creative with your space, decorating your room according to your preferences allows you to adjust to your new space.
Understand the importance of keeping your room organized and clutter-free, as evidence links clutter to depression and other mental health complications. Also, consider bringing items and décor from home or have your family send a few photos to hang on your wall. Having familiar items in your college room will help you mitigate the effects of homesickness.
- Socialize and Make Friends
College is the best place to meet new people, make friends, and create strong networks that could benefit you in the future. Making new friends will also help you cope with the challenges of homesickness and ease the transition into college life. You will soon feel more at home in your new environment by getting out and meeting people.
With time, you will realize that the people you meet on campus can be as good friends as those you`ve left at home. Remember, the relationships and connections you create during your time in college can influence your career in monumental ways.
While you are encouraged to make new friends and socialize, do not forget about your home connections. The transition can be much easier if you keep in touch with your family and loved ones. The good news is that technology has made it easy for students to interact with people at home without traveling. So, your loved ones are just a call or text away. However, you need to limit the number of times you call home so that it does not interfere with your ability to adjust to your new life.
- Create and Follow a Daily Routine
One of the main reasons why so many students struggle with homesickness is that they are away from the familiarity of home and the processes there. Creating a new routine at college will help you adjust to your new life, producing some sense of predictability and comfort. Also, understand that having a routine is an important element of effective time management.
Overcoming homesickness in college starts with recognizing that these feelings are common and will disappear with time. Get more involved on campus and make deliberate efforts to create friendships. Explore your college surroundings and avoid the temptation to stay isolated in your room. Most importantly, stay in touch with home but minimize your interactions with loved ones there to give you room for new relationships.
