College Survival Tips - Staving Off Homesickness

Homesickness is something I, along with many of my friends, had problems with last year.  If you are close to your family, leaving home is always going to be hard, and for many people homesickness is unavoidable.  As someone who survived being 9000 miles away from home, I certainly know what it feels like to be homesick.  Keeping this in mind, I want to share five things which helped me to get through the tough times.  Hopefully someone out there might find these tips helpful!
p.s. I know nothing about psychology, these tips are just little things that help me.  Obviously everyone is different, and this is by no means a professional guide to combatting homesickness

An illustrative diagram of my desk, which is actually looking abnormally tidy

Tip number 1: Make yourself at home

Something that makes me feel a lot better when my parents leave is having a little space that I have made my own.  Little things like picking out bedclothes that you like make a surprising difference to how you feel in your room.  Obviously having a room to yourself gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to making a room feel homely, but even when you are sharing a room (as I was last year), there are still many ways you can personalise your own space.

some examples:

• Bring some mementos of home.  Pictures of friends or little souvenirs (see the postcards behind my laptop) help you to remember that you aren't alone in the world - home still exists when you aren't there, and you always have old friends you can talk to.
• Decorate! Posters and little knicknacks help a room seem more lived-in. New places, especially college dorms can seem a little soulless when you first move in
• Find some greenery. It's very surprising how much a plant can make a difference to how homely a room feels.  Plus, if you look after them properly they will pump a little extra oxygen into your room - just the thing your brain needs when you are studying!

Tip number 2: embrace similarities, celebrate differences

Hmm... She looks familiar...

If you moved away from home, you must have been looking for a change - otherwise, why didn't you just stay where you were?  Sometimes new places can feel overwhelming, so it is comforting to look for similarities between what is familiar, and what is new, whether it is the colour of the taxis or the fact that they sell your favourite foods in the supermarkets.  Just remember that change can be fun, and living somewhere lets you see exciting things that could be missed by the average tourist.

Tip number 3: Keep in touch!

Homesickness makes you feel lonely, and it helps to have a link to home that you can go to for a feeling of familiarity.  Whether it is talking to your parents on skype every day or just keeping up with the news from your home town, it is important to feel that you aren't completely cut off.

Tip number 4: Home comforts

I love it, in case you were wondering

Having the comforts of home really help you to feel better about being away from it.  Go out and find your favourite foods, or bring your special teddy or comfy slippers with you when you pack up. If you are in a foreign country, there is bound to be a regional speciality shop somewhere near you - ex-pats get everywhere, believe me!

Tip number 5: Keep yourself occupied

If all else fails, break out the period dramas!

Homesickness is always at it's worst when you are alone. Obviously you can't be hanging out with your friends at all hours of the day, and there are bound to be days when you are sitting at your desk but you just can't face doing work.  When you feel like that, try not to wallow in misery, tempting as it is, but rather keep yourself occupied.  Bring your favourite dvds from home, or books that you know cover to cover and can dip into whenever you want to.  Make playlists of relaxing music, and find websites and blogs that take your interest.

Overall though, the most important thing to remember is this: you are not alone.  Homesickness is tough, and can leave you feeling lonely, like you are the only one feeling this way.  You are not.  Leaving home is hard for everyone, and if you talk to other people in your situation, you are bound to find that they are going through exactly the same emotions as you!