Homesickness can happen when you're away from school, just on a trip, or have moved to a different place.Simple things like your old pillow or the smell of your house might make you nostalgic.Homesickness can affect people of all ages in almost any situation, so don't be ashamed if you are longing for home.You can learn to love your new environment by taking some steps.
Step 1: Understand what causes a person to be homesick.
Homesickness is caused by the need for connection, love, and security.Your feelings of homesickness might not have anything to do with your actual home.Homesickness can be caused by anything that is familiar, stable, comfortable, and positive.Homesickness is a kind of grief similar to mourning a break up or death.Pre-emptive homesickness is when you develop feelings of anxiety, loss, or obsession about home before you leave because you are anticipating the separation.People of any age can experience homesickness, but children and pre-teens feel it more than older adults.
Step 2: Homesickness symptoms are recognized.
Homesickness can cause a variety of feelings and side-effects that can affect your daily functioning.Learning to recognize these symptoms can help you figure out why you are feeling this way.Nostalgia.Nostalgia is when you think about your home and people often.You may feel like you're constantly comparing your new situation to your old one.Depression.Depression is experienced by people who suffer from homesickness because they don't have enough social support at home.Depression can be worsened by feeling like you have less control over your life.Homesickness-caused depression can include feelings of sadness, feeling disoriented or like you don't belong, withdrawing from social activities, academic or work difficulties, feelings helpless or abandoned, and changes in your sleeping patterns.It's a sign of depression if you don't enjoy things you used to do.There is anxiety.Homesickness can be caused by anxiety.Homesickness can cause obsessive thoughts, especially about the people you miss.You might have trouble concentrating or feeling stressed because you don't know what's going on.You might get annoyed by people in your new situation.In extreme cases, anxiety can cause other responses, such as agoraphobia or claustrophobia.Abnormal behaviors.Feelings of being homesick can change the way you respond to things.If you find yourself yelling and getting upset more than you used to, this could be a sign that you are homesick.You may eat more or less than you normally do.Frequent headaches are one of the symptoms that include more pain or illness than usual.
Step 3: Homesickness is something that many young people experience.
A person can get homesick at any age, but younger people are more likely to experience it.Children and teens are not as emotionally independent.A seventeen-year-old is more prepared to venture from home than a seven year old.Young people don't have a lot of experience with new situations.It is more difficult if you have never been away at camp before or been on your own before.It is more likely to be a new experience when you are young.
Step 4: Keep familiar things around.
It is possible to ease your feelings of homesickness by having familiar things from home, such as photos of family or an item tied to your cultural identity.Balance old with new.It is important to embrace the changes that you are experiencing in order to adjust to your new situation.You should not surround yourself with old, familiar things if you have some comforting items from home.Not everything has to be a physical object.You may be able to stream your local radio station on the internet.
Step 5: Do some things you enjoy doing at home.
Research shows that doing nostalgic things can make you feel better.Traditions and rituals can help foster a sense of home when you are far away.You can eat your favorite foods at home.Eating familiar foods from your childhood or culture can make you feel more secure in your new environment.Introduce your favorite foods to new friends to strengthen the connection between familiar sources of comfort and new emotional support.If you have religious traditions, participate in them.Research shows that people who participate in religious traditions in a new place feel less homesick.Finding a place of worship or meditation in your new place can help you adjust.There are some similar activities to do.Don't be shy if you were in a bowling league or book club.If you can find something similar in your new environment, do your research.You'll be able to do things you enjoy and meet new people.
Step 6: Discuss your feelings with a person.
It is a common myth that talking about homesickness can make it worse.This isn't true according to research.Talking about your feelings can help you deal with homesickness.It can make your feelings worse if you don't acknowledge them.You can find a trusted person.Advice about how to cope with your feelings can be given by a college RA, guidance counselor, parent, or mental health professional.Having the strength to admit you need help is a sign of courage and good self-care, not something to be embarrassed about.
Step 7: A journal is a good place to keep it.
Keeping a journal will allow you to keep track of what's happening in your new environment.Whether you're studying abroad, in college, at summer camp, or just moved to a new city, keeping a journal can help you keep track of your thoughts.Homesickness can be alleviated by keeping a journal where you reflect on your experiences and how they made you feel.Keep your focus positive.It is normal to feel lonely and homesick, but it is important to look at the good side of your new experiences.Think about the fun things you are doing, or think about how something new reminds you of something wonderful from home.You may make homesickness worse if you only journal about how miserable you are.Make sure your journal is more than just a list of events.When you list a negative experience, it's a good idea to think about why it made you feel that way.The purpose of narrative reflection is to serve a therapeutic purpose.
Step 8: Get a lot of physical activity.
The body's natural feel-good chemicals are released by exercise.Depression and anxiety can be fought with endorphins.Exercise with others if you can.This will allow you to meet new people.Your immune system can be boosted by exercising.Homesickness can manifest as increased feelings of sickness.
Step 9: You can talk to friends and family back home.
Talking with your family back home is important for adjusting to a new place.To combat homesickness effectively, you need to develop a sense of self-confidence.If you focus too much on your loved ones in another place, you won't learn how to manage yourself.Homesickness can be worse for young children if they are talking to friends and family.You can use social networking sites to connect with friends and see what they are up to.It may help to not think they are far away.You don't have time to make new friends if you focus so much on your old friends.
Step 10: You shouldn't worry about your old home.
It can become a crutch if you connect to people back home.Don't let reminding yourself of home take over your life.If you find yourself staying in to talk to your mom for the third time that day rather than grab a coffee with a new friend, consider adjusting the amount of time you spend on connecting with new people.There is a line between keeping in touch with people from your hometown and not moving on to where you are now.You can schedule your phone calls.For how long you can talk to friends and family back home, set limits.It is possible to write old-fashioned snail mail letters.These are great ways to stay in touch with people you haven't seen in a while.
Step 11: You can make a list of things that you don't like about home.
It is common for you to miss your loved ones when you are away.You can make a list of people who are no longer with you.What memories do you have?What did you do together?What aspects of their personality did you like the most?It is possible to find new friends who are similar to those you left behind.It can help you adjust to a new place.You should look for ways in which your environment is similar to what you missed.It has been shown that when you find aspects of the familiar in your new situation, you are less likely to stay home.
Step 12: Get involved in some way.
It can be difficult to make new friends in a new place.If you have similar interests, putting yourself into situations where you can meet new people is the best way to build a strong social support network.New activities can help distract you from homesickness.If you are away from school or college, there are many clubs, sports, activities, and student government bodies you could join.You can connect with other people who are also experiencing homesickness.It can be difficult to make new friends in a new city.It has been shown that it is harder to make friends after college.You can make friends by joining a group that meets frequently, such as a book club or workshop, because you will see the same people on a regular basis.
Step 13: What do you like about home?
Making new friends is one of the most important things you can do to fight homesickness.You are less likely to have problems with homesickness if you have a strong support network.Sharing your positive memories about home will help lift your spirits.You can host a party where you can share your cuisine and customs.Sharing your favorite foods from home with others can make you feel better.You can have a party where you teach a few friends to make the foods you love most from home, or just invite some people over to enjoy your favorite local snacks.You can share your music with others.If you're from a place that loves country music, you should have a small get-together where people play board games and listen to their favorite tunes.If you liked listening to jazz at home, play some jazz.If the music reminds you of being at home, it doesn't have to relate to your home.There are funny stories about being at home.Sharing funny anecdotes about what you loved most about being at home will make you feel better.It is possible to strengthen your connection to home and to new friends by talking about fond memories.Try to teach people a few key phrases in your native language if you're living in a place with a different language from yours.This will be fun for you and your friends.
Step 14: Be confident.
Homesickness can make you feel shy, awkward, or vulnerable.You will miss out on experiences that could help you adjust to your new situation if you don't take any risks.Even if you don't know a lot of people, try to accept invitations.It's not necessary for you to be the life of the party.Being present and listening to others is a good step.Meeting and talking to just one new person is a manageable goal if you are shy.As time goes on, you will become more comfortable socializing.The easiest way to make a connection is to listen to the other person.If you don't make friends at that particular party or event, you will have proved to yourself that you can handle new things, and that will boost your self-confidence.
Step 15: Get out of your comfort zone.
It is important to push yourself out of your comfort zone if you want to grow and change.When learning a new skill, a moderate level of anxiety can improve your performance.It can be hard to adjust to your new environment if you feel too comfortable.Start small.Trying to face your biggest fear at the same time is counter-productive.You could feel overwhelmed if you try to throw yourself into something completely foreign.You can give yourself small, manageable goals that challenge you a little bit at a time.There is a new restaurant in your town.There is an offer to sit with a stranger.You can start a study group with someone in your class.A co-worker should be invited to have drinks after work.
Step 16: Take in the unique aspects of your new environment.
It is helpful in fighting homesickness to find ways to meet your needs in a new environment.You may feel more attached to your new situation if you connect with what is new and exciting.If you're studying or living abroad, you should check out the museums, palaces, local restaurants, and cultural traditions that make the country unique.If you want to do something cultural at least once a week, you need to get out your tour book.You should immerse yourself in the culture.If you have just moved to a different place in your home country, you might find that the local culture is different from what you are used to.You can learn the local expressions, try out new cuisine, and check out local bars and pubs.A cooking class focuses on local ingredients.You can join a dance club.It is possible to feel more at home in a new place by increasing your communication skills.Ask the locals what they like to do.If you want to find the best burrito of your life, you could get a recommendation from someone.
Step 17: You should learn the language.
It can be hard to feel like you belong in a new country if you can't speak the language.Take classes, chat with locals, and practice your new skills if you want to learn the language quickly.Once you can communicate with the people in your new environment, you will feel more in control.
Step 18: You need to get out of the house.
Homesickness can be defeated if you get out of the house.If you watch reruns of The Office in the dark for eight hours a day, you'll be homesick.Instead, make a goal of spending a lot of your time out of the house, whether it's to read a book in a sunny park or take a long walk with a friend instead of doing sit-ups in your room.You can work or study out of the house.You can do the same work at a coffee shop or park as you would at home.Being around people may make you feel less alone.
Step 19: Try to get a new interest.
It is possible to find something new to do on your own.It can help you focus on the positives and distract you from feeling sad or lonely.You can break out of your comfort zone by learning a new skill.Try to find a hobby that is related to your environment.Do you know if there are any hiking or biking clubs in your area?You can join an art class.You can find a writers workshop.It will help you feel more connected to your new place if you can socialize while developing a new skill.
Step 20: Give it some time.
If you're not in love with your new environment right away, don't be sad.Many people around you may have embraced their new surroundings more quickly, but that doesn't mean that there's something wrong with you; in fact, many people who may look like they're having a great time may be feeling incredibly homesick.With a bit of perseverance, you will be able to make it work.