7 Ways to Beat Homesickness Whilst Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is a dream for many African and other international students. But it can be challenging, especially the very first weeks since you’re in a new environment with unfamiliar faces. And that’s where homesickness kicks in, and you can’t avoid it.

Do you think or miss going back home? Yes, you do. But you went abroad to further your studies. Therefore, you need to deal with homesickness.

Here are seven ways to beat homesickness whilst studying abroad.

• Keep in touch with your family and friends at home, but not too often

You’re living abroad, which doesn’t mean you should forget your family and friends at home. Are you feeling homesick? Then, pick your phone and call or chat with the people back at home – either your parents, siblings, or best friend.

Do you want to see their smiles and facial expression while talking to them? That’s where the power of video chatting comes in. Don’t do it often, or you will end up missing them more and feel the distance and homesickness more.

• Make new friends

Loneliness increases the chances of feeling all homesick for no particular reason. It would help if you felt alive by engaging with the new faces in the new city.

Start by making efforts to make new and lifelong friends in the university, and you will eventually meet new people from all walks of life. With time, you won’t feel lonely, and the feelings of homesickness will be no more.

• Make yourself busy

Too much free time will make you think a lot about your life back at home. You will end up feeling alone and homesick.

Get busy by studying at the library, planning day trips with other students, or trying out a new hobby. You can even do a part-time job while studying abroad to reduce your free time.

• Explore your new surroundings

Don’t be glued on the TV, watching too much Netflix, and eating snacks. Get out and start familiarizing yourself with the new city, and doing so will make you feel more at home.

It would help if you beat off culture shock, which contributes a lot to homesickness. You can try doing some voluntary work or just going for walks to get accustomed to the new culture and surroundings.

• Don’t compare your new city to your home

The worst thing you can do is try to make the new city like home since that’s quite impossible.

Everything and everyone here is different, and you need to accept you’re living in a new country and take their culture and ways of life.

• Go to the gym and start exercising

Don’t just lie on your sofa watching TV because you have nothing constructive to do. Keep yourself occupied by doing some exercises which will boost your mood and feel healthier every day.

You don’t even need to go to the gym; you can try out some home workouts without equipment. But we prefer a gym because you have the chance of seeing and meeting new people to beat the homesickness.

• Stay put and have patience

You have to accept that it may take time to make new friends and be accustomed to the new culture while familiarizing yourself with the new surroundings.

Keep doing what you came to the new country to do – studying abroad. With time, everything will fall into place, and homesickness will become history.

Conclusion

You’re thousands of miles away from your home country, friends, and family. You will start to feel lonely, anxious, distracted, and sad all the time. But with the above tips, you can fight off homesickness to make your living abroad a fantastic experience.