So, if you’re shuddering at the prospect of being away in a foreign land, fear not! Here are some tips to help tide you through, especially if you’re worried that you might be missing home more than you should:
- Distract yourself: It can be as simple as going out for a walk to help clear your mind! Plus, it gives you an opportunity to get used to your new surroundings if you’ve just arrived. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your favourite hideout spot somewhere in town!
Of course, there are plenty of other things to do that provide an escape from your homely woes. For example, if you enjoyed reading back home, then nothing’s stopping you from doing the same here. Getting active is also a great way to get your mind off things besides staying fit, so feel free to go for a jog, or pick up a gym membership and get working
- Talking to friends/family back home: Now, I realize this could go either way, but for some, there’s nothing more comforting than talking to familial faces. Besides, it’s a good opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives and with convenient apps like What’s App or Messenger, keeping in touch has never been easier… when you forget about the barrier called ‘time zones’, at least!
- Surround yourself with good company: For me, it’s important to surround yourself with people who make you feel good. I know this may be hard for some people (I know, anxiety can be a mean one sometimes), but I’m just going to put it out there and say that it’s worth the effort. Why not join a club or a society? You never know until you try, right? After all, it’s a great way to meet new people with similar interests as you, or you may want to mix with some folks from home! Nevertheless, if you’re curious to see what kind of clubs and societies Northumbria University offers, you can take a look at the list here.
- Talking to your guidance tutor/accessing counselling services: It’s never a good thing to keep your feelings bottled up inside so if you think you need to let it out, then let it out. Don’t be afraid to approach your guidance tutor for help. Alternatively, if you think the pressures of being homesick is getting too much (to the point where daily activities are beginning to become affected), feel free to book an appointment with the university’s counselling service. They’ll be able to provide solutions to point you in the right direction, and it does help to just have someone to vent to, especially with a degree of anonymity. If it’s late at night and there’s no one you feel you can talk to, then you can also try out our convenient Nightline service!
Most importantly, I would advise that you try and stay positive throughout. I know it can be hard sometimes, but remember that you’re not alone in this, and that everything is going to be okay! As I’ve said before, feeling homesick is a pretty common thing, so you’re definitely not the only one. There’s always options for you to help ease your mind off of feeling homesick, and with the right support, I’m sure you’ll be able to pull through the hurdle.
