Blog Guidance

Is Homesickness Synonymous With Studying Abroad?

It's difficult to move overseas, whether you're teaching, studying, interning, volunteering, or simply traveling for a long time. The experience may be fascinating, invigorating, and eye-opening, but it can also be extremely difficult in a variety of ways that extend far beyond having to cope with a society that doesn't eat supper until 10 p.m.

It's critical not to let homesickness ruin your vacation.

Homesickness is one of the major obstacles that people living abroad encounter, particularly those who are new to the country. Go Overseas can explain what it is and how to deal with it. It's critical not to let homesickness ruin your vacation.

Homesickness is how you define it…

Nobody wants to feel homesick when studying in a foreign country.

You're continually reminded what a fantastic chance it is to live in a different nation and try something new… So, why does homesickness have to wreak havoc on your life and make living a tough task?

Homesickness is defined as "a desire for one's home during a period of separation from it."

Distress, headaches, feeling furious or nauseated, and feelings of loneliness and isolation are all possible symptoms. Of course, there is a slew of others that are completely taken into consideration but may be more difficult to see.

It's very natural to experience these emotions when moving to a new country, but we'd like to offer you some advice on how to deal with them. So keep reading to see if you can find anything that will work for you!

Let’s beat the study abroad homesickness, together!

Coping with homesickness when traveling is a highly personal experience, and not all methods will work for everyone. Making a few new acquaintances might help some people overcome emotions of homesickness, while others may require a more extensive strategy. We've outlined a few strategies for reducing loneliness while traveling abroad. If you're missing home and feeling blue while overseas, try one or more of these tips.

Begin by setting yourself a routine and stick to it

When you first come overseas to study, you may be confused about the location or time zones. This may be difficult and cause you to feel homesick.

Adding routines to your life is one of the most effective methods to counteract this.

Routines are crucial while traveling outside of your own country. Your productivity, attention, and sense of control will all be influenced by your regular schedule.

Of course, we're not talking about following a rigorous regimen; after all, who does?

We want you to wake up at the same time every day and go to bed at a similar time every night, maybe establishing a "bedtime pattern." A good nighttime routine is essential since it improves your sleep cycle, and mood, and reduces your chances of becoming sick. So, the next time you're feeling homesick, remember this simple yet significant technique!

Take a break from social media

Pulling the plug for a short period of time may appear overkill. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a real phenomenon, and social media has made it simpler than ever to keep up with your pals and feel "in the know," even if you're thousands of miles away. However, it might be tough to see your friends going about their lives without you, getting together and enjoying the same kind of fun you used to have. So, if you think about it, restricting your time on social media might really help you deal with homesickness. 

"Out of sight, out of mind," as the old adage goes. Decide to restrict the amount of time you spend sitting and scrolling through your newsfeed. Also, strive to strike a healthy balance between the amount of material you consume and the actual stuff you contribute.

Be proactive and keep yourself busy

It's not something we refer to as homesickness. It's referred to as "missing home." It's not a disease; rather, it's a state of mind." — Blockquotetten, John

The easiest and most effective technique to cure homesickness is to spend as little time as possible thinking about home! However, making the most of your time and the motion you're given is crucial.

Staying proactive, exploring your new surroundings, meeting new people, and engaging in various activities will all distract you from longing for your home.

The more you do, the more enjoyable your time will be, and you will never feel as if you are missing out on something.

Find people you get along with

University is a large place, and if you're studying abroad, it's much bigger!

Making an effort to make new friends may appear challenging in your mind, but we guarantee it will be the finest thing you do at university for your mental health and to alleviate homesickness.

There's nothing more thrilling than discovering a group of individuals who share your vibe and with whom you get along - and we know you'll find them quickly.

We recommend that you make the most of your university experience. They'll have so many events planned for you to participate in that you'll be sure to make some new acquaintances who share your interests.

Your closest friend is video conferencing.

There is a lot of debate in this digital generation about how good the internet is for our mental health. There's nothing a fast video chat can't resolve if you're longing home while studying abroad!

Friends and family are everything, and they'll be as excited to hear from you as you are to see them. Seeing a familiar face will put a smile on your face and help you to feel less homesick while studying abroad!

There are several applications available for you to download in order to feel connected, and we recommend that you download them all. Here's a rundown of the top five we believe you'll enjoy:

  • Whatsapp
  • Zoom
  • Netflix Party
  • Facebook (and messenger)
  • Instagram

These are free apps that let you make phone calls, video calls, send messages, and play games.

You don't have to select exactly what we've recommended since you could discover other apps that are more suited to you — there's no pressure!

Dive into your books

Allow yourself to get into a productive pattern with study programs for each day of the week. It's always a good idea to write it down in a calendar so you can see what you need to accomplish rather than sweep it under the rug every day. Joining a study group or studying with a classmate might help you stay on track and have someone to talk to (and share the misery with). Finally, when it comes to studying locations, a change of environment may make all the difference in your productivity.

Write down how you’re feeling

Many people say that writing things down helps them relax. If you have a problem or a sentiment you want to express (but don't want to share with others), put it down in a diary and you might be amazed at how much better you feel. Another rewarding method that writing things down might reduce anxiety and tension is to make lists and cross off chores as you complete them.

Our final thoughts

Just because you're homesick now doesn't imply you'll always be homesick. It's natural to miss the things that are familiar and comforting. However, you will gradually become accustomed to and content with your new life.

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