8 Tips for Dealing with Homesickness at Uni

For the majority of people, going to university is the first time they’re away from home. You essentially leave everything you have ever known behind for a new life and that can be a hard adjustment. You might have an awesome time at university and make loads of new friends. However, it’s still natural to miss the place we once called home.

Don’t worry, it’s only natural. We all experience homesickness at some point during our time at university. That is why we at The Freshers Guide have compiled a list of great tips to help you deal with the blues when you’re missing home.

1. Acknowledge the feeling of missing home

As we mentioned above, it is only normal to feel homesick whilst at university and it will happen to us all at some point. Don’t beat yourself up about it, it isn’t a weakness. Emotions come and go and this is one of them. Don’t be afraid to have a little cry. Let it be, these feelings will pass and you’ll bounce back.

Get a good night's sleep and in the morning plan out your day. Structure is important as it keeps you busy and your mind occupied. Give a friend a call or talk to your flatmates. Decide what you’re going to do today. We recommend a breakfast outing or brunch, which leads us onto our next tip:

2. Get out or your flat and keep yourself busy

Being trapped in your new flat can feel pretty isolating a lot of the time. This is why we’ve found getting out and about and staying active whilst exploring your new hometown can help ease the burden of homesickness.

As we mentioned in our freshers week checklist, you should definitely get involved with societies and clubs at your university. This is a great way to build a new community around you and make you feel more comfortable in your new hometown. We recommend joining as many societies as

possible - anything you think would interest you. You can always drop them later if you discover they’re not for you. Or consider volunteering or taking up a part-time job to fill your time with something fulfilling.

3. Get off social media and immerse yourself into your new life

We know it can be tempting to check your socials whenever you’re not occupied, but trust us, don’t. Instead, use this time to chat to your new flatmates, or go to that social for the society you’ve just joined. Turn your notifications off (don’t worry, you won’t miss anything you can’t check later) and explore your new surroundings.

Take photos when you’re out of your new hometown so you have something to post on your socials and send to your friends and family who are not currently with you. Create memories IRL!

(note: did you know the average person scrolls through 300 feet of social media content a day? That’s the same size of the Statue of Liberty!)

4. Bring home comforts with you and create your safe space

Before coming to university, it’s a good idea to identify what your home comforts are. Of course, you can’t move your entire set-up to the other end of the country, but you can bring a few hand-picked items along on the journey with you. Have a good think about what these items may be, they’re different for everyone of course.

For some of us it’s cuddly toys, or a favourite blanket or cushion. For others it’s pictures of memories with friends and families. Whatever they are, identify them and bring them with you for your new room.

Remember, home is where the heart is. So let’s make it a place where our heart can feel at home.

5. Keep in touch with home but don’t over do it

We know this might sound strange, but when embarking on this new stage of your life you’re looking forward to the future, not back to your previous life in the past. Your friends and family from home will always be there for you no matter what, but constantly being in contact with them may make you feel the distance even more. This can unfortunately make you feel more homesick.

Certainly keep in contact with your friends and family. Schedule a phone call throughout the week (we recommend 1-2 times a week) or create a WhatsApp group chat if you don’t already have one. Consider video calling too. This will make you feel like you’re still involved in each other's lives without it being overbearing.

6. Stay active and keep exercising

Whether you like going on long walks, religiously go to the gym or are part of a sports club, staying active at university is so important. Not only will it keep you fit and healthy, but it will also make you feel good.

It’s okay to wallow with a tub of dairy-free ice cream on your sofa once in a while (we’ve all been there) but try not to make this a regular occurrence. Building exercise into your daily routines has been clinically proven to improve your mental health, so we highly recommend it!

7. Don’t compare yourself with others

This tip ties into why we recommend staying off social media when feeling homesick. You might see friends having what looks like a great time on their Instagram and Snapchat stories and wonder why your time at university isn’t like theirs. However, remember that social media only gives a superficial insight into people's lives.

8. Never be afraid to ask for help

Despite writing these tips, we appreciate that being human we’re all distinctly different. We all come from contrasting backgrounds and have varying life circumstances. We also know how tough it can be managing finances, your studies and more and it can get pretty overwhelming.

If these tips don’t work for you and you need further support, be sure to seek out your student services which will be clearly listed on your universities website. If your faculty has pastoral tutors, be sure to schedule an appointment with them too.