Last week, it finally came time for my younger sister to fly the nest. Much like myself, she had selected a university thousands of miles from home, in the depths of south Florida. Almost immediately, the calls concerning homesickness and feelings of helplessness began. So when thinking of a topic for this week’s mental health article, it seemed fitting to write about a mental health issue that is not only affecting my sister, but thousands of college freshmen around the nation: homesickness. I have compiled a list of some short and easy tips to get you feeling at home in no time.
Feelings of being homesickness are ok. It is completely normal to feel homesick or even generally uncomfortable. No matter if you’re 18 or 80, a major life change is going to warrant uncomfortable feelings. Acknowledging to yourself and to your family that you are homesick is the first step in getting through it.
Stay busy and involved on campus. Go to meetings and organizational fairs, and be sure to join at least two organizations right away. This is a great way to make friends and to spruce up your resume for grad school. As long as you are busy with schoolwork and activities, you will not have time to let your mind mull over and over about how much you miss home.
Get off campus. Some kids do not go to college in the most exciting cities or towns, but no matter where you live, getting off campus is key. Go to a coffee shop in another area of the city, go to the mall and walk around, get acquainted with your local parks. Getting off campus will help you feel more comfortable in your new city, and will, again, take your mind off of homesickness.
Focus on post-college life. Never, ever forget that the single most important reason why you are even at college in the first place is to learn. And by focusing on your studies, instead of your home, it becomes easier to dream and plan for life after college. Now is the time to do all of the work. Honestly, this was the hardest thing for me to understand at first, but that will come with time. This leads to my final point:
Give it time. The first weeks, and maybe even months, will be hard. It takes time to settle into a new environment, and to adjust to a completely new life. But the beauty of the human mind is, it can adapt to a new situation, and it does if you just give it a little time. Instead of allowing yourself to give up in the first few days, try to get as settled as possible, and then make your decision at the close of the first semester. All you have to do is give it time, and you will be fine. If steps like this are not working for you, talk to your resident assistant or on-campus counselor.
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