How to Kick Homesickness to the Curb

While university is often glorified as the ultimate student getaway where people are constantly happy to get away from their families and be independent on their own, it is important to remember that this is not always the case. Homesickness is a very valid feeling that many students face, whether they are moving away for the first time or the seventh time. 

Here are 4 tips to help kick homesickness to the curb!

Get Involved and Stay Busy

One of the best ways to get rid of homesickness is to stay busy. When you aren’t busy attending classes and completing assignments, there are plenty of ways you can get involved— both on and off campus. Some examples include attending on-campus events, joining a club, getting a Work-Study position, or even joining Student Health and Wellness as a Peer Wellness Volunteer. By staying busy and involved, you are likely to meet new people and have more commitments to fill your time. 

Decorate Your Space

Making your new space away from home feel like yours will make all the difference in being able to feel comfortable, safe, and at “home” in your new city. Bringing pictures of loved ones from home to put up on your walls, hanging up a tapestry, or even displaying a vase of flowers on your window sill can make all the difference in making your new space feel like yours. Creating a space that you can come back to after a long day of classes and feel safe and comfortable can help with that feeling of wanting to go back home every weekend. 

Establish a Routine

 A new environment can feel chaotic. Creating a daily routine for yourself—including things like a regular wake-up time, study schedule, and exercise—can provide a sense of stability and normalcy. By creating a new routine that works for your new academic schedule, it will help you feel more in control of your new life in your space and help you plan your days better. 

Stay Connected

While being away from home is a part of University life, it is also incredibly important to stay connected with family and friends at home. Setting time aside on a regular basis to call home to chat with loved ones can help get rid of that feeling of being home sick by helping one still feel close and involved in what is going on back home while still being present in life’s new adventures. 

While these are just some tips to help you kick homesickness to the curb, we at Student Health and Wellness are here to support you. Visit our website for more information about supports available, and how to book an appointment.

- Makayla Foster, Peer Wellness Educator Lead