How to Overcome Homesickness While Studying Abroad?: 10 Tips for International Students

Studying abroad can be an incredibly exciting and enriching experience. However, with all the adventures, it’s common for students to deal with homesickness from time to time. Whether it’s missing your family’s cooking, your friends and relatives, or just familiar surroundings in general, homesickness can negatively impact your overseas education if it is not kept in check.

This blog discusses different tips to deal with and overcome homesickness while studying abroad. These practical tips will help you effectively manage and get rid of homesickness while focusing on making the most of your study abroad experience.

What is Homesickness?

Homesickness is when you feel distressed when you’re away from your usual surroundings and people back home. It’s totally normal sometimes to get emotional if you move somewhere new and start college in another country. You find yourself missing your family, friends, neighbourhood – basically all the comforts and familiar atmosphere that make somewhere feel like home.

Some students get hit hard by homesickness with anxiety and trouble focusing on their studies. It can be rough for a bit. But there are different ways to push through it and adjust to your new situation abroad. We have discussed them in the upcoming section.

Also read: How to Find Accommodation in UK for Indian Students?

Tips to Overcome Homesickness While Studying Abroad

Here are some of the most effective tips for dealing with and overcoming homesickness while studying abroad:

1. Establish a Routine

One of the best ways to deal with homesickness is to stick to a regular routine. This provides a sense of normalcy and structure to your day. Plan your day around your classes, study hours, meals, exercise and social activities. A predictable daily/weekly schedule will keep you occupied and make your time abroad less chaotic.

2. Stay in Touch With Home

Regular communication with your friends and family back home is key to overcoming homesickness. Make video calls instead of just sending texts so you can see and interact with familiar faces. Send letters and care packages to receive a tangible connection. Scheduling virtual catch-ups will give you something cheerful to look forward to.

3. Embrace Your New Surroundings

Rather than constantly dwelling on what you left behind, challenge yourself to appreciate and get involved in your new environment. Make an effort to explore your neighbourhood and visit local parks and attractions. Sign up for university clubs and cultural activities to meet new friends. Being open to new experiences can alleviate feelings of isolation.

Must read: Cultural Adaptation Tips for Indian Students in the USA

4. Keep Busy With Hobbies

Find hobbies and activities that interest you to fill your free time. Carry on with any hobby you enjoyed back home, or try something unique to your host country. Some options are learning a musical instrument, playing sports, arts/crafts, volunteering or taking up a new language. Staying occupied will leave you less time to dwell on homesickness.

5. Ask for Help When Needed

It’s important not to try dealing with homesickness alone. Reach out to others who can relate, like your international student adviser, domestic friends or even a counsellor. Many universities offer support groups and resources for students adjusting abroad. Don’t hesitate to seek help from those equipped to assist you in overcoming obstacles.

6. Build a Support System

Don’t try to deal with challenging emotions alone. Surround yourself with a solid support network of roommates, local friends, mentors, and student organisations. Open up about your feelings when homesick, listen to others, and understand you’re not the only one experiencing this transition difficulty. A compassionate social circle will uplift your morale by providing advice, distractions or just a shoulder to lean on during low times.

7. Keep Yourself Busy But Also Rest 

While staying productive is important to overcome homesickness, don’t overschedule yourself. Leaving some downtime allows you to reflect on positive experiences and recharge without constantly longing for people back home. Set aside time for hobbies, leisure activities or self-care instead of filling every hour. Balance activity with rest to avoid burnout, which can exacerbate homesick emotions. Listen to your needs and ensure enough play and relaxation amidst a busy schedule abroad.

8. Eat Comfort Foods

If you’re craving familiar flavours, look for recipes of your favourite dishes from home and cook or order them. Get ingredients sent from home if unavailable locally. Cooking meals from your culture allows nostalgic enjoyment of taste and gives a feeling of being close to your roots despite physical distance. International stores or websites shipping food items curb homesickness pangs with little reminders of cuisine from your country.

Also read: How do Indian Students Manage Food in the USA?

9. Exercise Regularly

Making exercise a regular part of your routine can significantly help overcome homesickness. Physical activity releases feel-good endorphins that boost your mood. It’s also a healthy way to relieve stress or pent-up emotions. Try committing to workouts 3-4 times a week, even if just 30 minutes of walking, running, yoga, dancing or sports.

10. Journal Your Experiences

Writing about your abroad adventures and how you feel provides an outlet for emotions and aids in processing challenges. Jotting down thoughts daily to look back also makes the experience more memorable in the long term. Staying aware of personal growth and noting big and small victories helps maintain a positive mindset despite facing hurdles like homesickness. Over a period, journaling shows you how far you’ve come, boosting perseverance to stay on course despite difficulties faced.

Key Takeaways

To summarise some effective ways of overcoming homesickness while studying abroad:

• Maintain routines and schedules for stability.
• Connect frequently with your support system at home virtually.
• Engage proactively in local activities and culture.
• Keep your mind and body occupied with hobbies.
• Seek assistance from resources designed to help international students.
• Share your feelings with your roommates, local friends, and mentors.
• Stay productive to overcome homesickness, but relax yourself at times.
• Try to recreate homestyle comfort foods.
• Take care of your physical and mental well-being.

How to Overcome Homesickness While Studying Abroad FAQs

Q1. How do international students deal with homesickness?
A1. International students can connect with their family or friends to deal with homesickness. They can also eat comfort foods and keep themselves busy with activities.

Q2. Why is studying abroad challenging homesick?
A2. It is quite common to feel homesick when students are away from family, friends and your comfort zone. While studying abroad, students experience new cultures, traditions, languages, foods and whatnot. Hence, studying abroad can be challenging.

Q3. Does homesickness while studying abroad go away completely over time?
A3. For most overseas students, intense homesickness substantially decreases over time abroad. Mild homesickness may still come and go but likely won’t impact your study focus or quality of life abroad.

Q4. What’s most important when dealing with homesickness while studying abroad?
A4. Focus on self-care basics like healthy eating, sufficient sleep and exercise. Staying socially connected with fellow international students is also key, as is regularly communicating with loved ones back home.

Q5. What are some quick fixes when homesickness while studying abroad intensifies?
A5. Reaching out to family and childhood friends via text, email or video chat is enormously comforting. Treat yourself to your favourite homestyle comfort foods that you’ve found ingredients for.