Leaving home to study abroad is one of the boldest things a student can do. But no one tells you how lonely the courage can feel. Even if you’re excited, it’s normal to feel sad and miss home.
Starting from scratch in a new country where you don’t know anyone can be overwhelming. Cultural differences such as the weather, food and language add to the challenge. If you’re not particularly extroverted, it can feel especially difficult. Your meals taste different, your phone calls with family start happening at odd hours, or sometimes, not at all. There are moments of difficult adjustment and you miss your friends, family and homeland. And while everyone else seems to be “living their best life,” you’re quietly wishing you could teleport to your family’s kitchen. This experience can be tough but it’s also thrilling in so many ways as it can be one of the most memorable times and experiences of your whole life as you’re exploring a new country, meeting people from different backgrounds and learning to navigate life on your own.
In this article, we’ll talk about what homesickness is, why it happens, and simple ways to feel better while living abroad. 
5 Grounded Tips to deal with Homesickness
Feeling homesick can distract you from your goals. It’s important to take conscious steps to manage these feelings otherwise it may lead to deeper sadness or even mental health issues.
Remember, homesickness is not weakness. It’s not something to “get over.” It’s proof that you loved where you came from and that’s a beautiful thing. When you understand that homesickness is normal, it becomes easier to deal with your emotions and take care of yourself. It is also temporary and the good news is that there are healthy ways to manage it.
So, let’s look at 5 ways that actually help:
1. Make your room feel like a home:
Your room is not just where you sleep but it’s your comfort space where you recharge after a long tiring day, where you can cry if you need to and where you can just be you.
You can’t bring all of your belongings abroad with you but you can find ways to make your new space feel more like home like you can bring small things that are very lightweight for example, cozy blanket, polaroids of your family and friends, a scent that reminds you of your mom, or even a favorite mug are small enough to pack and can make a big difference as when homesickness hits hard so this will help you to feel closer to your loved ones. For example, when I moved abroad, I brought along some small gifts and Polaroids with me because they meant a lot to me. Whenever I missed my best friend or my family, I would look at those photos, the little moments that we captured together and the gifts they gave me. Just seeing them would make me smile. So when the outside world feels unfamiliar, having a familiar corner can calm you and help you to reduce homesickness.
And you know what? When you are really missing your family and feeling homesick, even your own room can start to feel empty and heavy because no one’s in it with you. But if your room feels warm and inviting, you won’t feel the urge to run away from it. That’s why creating a cozy space is very important as it helps you to feel a little more at peace. So you can make your room aesthetic by hanging up the polaroids on the wall with fairy lights. And if you are a coffee lover, you can keep scented candles of your favourite coffee like Caramel latte or Mocha frappe as it’s a low cost and a fun way to make your room feel cozy and inviting.
2. Make a bucket list for exploring your Country or trying new things:
When you were in your home country you were used to hanging out with your friends, going to your favourite places and trying out new things. But when you move abroad, things become different without your close friends around. That’s why you start to miss your home and feel stressed. But what you might not realize is that when you start exploring new places and joining different activities, you meet new people and before you know it they become your good friends. So instead of feeling lonely, do a little research about where you’re living, find a few places you absolutely have to explore and then make a list of these places or activities for example, You can make a list of 10 best coffeeshops in your city, libraries or all the different places you can go. Once you make the list, challenge yourself to do/see all of them before you leave. This will give you something fun to look forward to and plan for and your mindset will shift from “what I miss” to “what’s next.”
Start this with simple adventures like try a new restaurant or go to the local market. And once you start enjoying these little experiences and when there’s less burden of studies, you can even plan trips to explore other cities with your new friends as it’s a fun way to make memories and feel more connected to your new country. And if you are worried about the transportation cost, there are many student communities that organize budget-friendly group trips, or you can split travel costs with friends to make it more affordable. Not just this, students also get discounts on buses, trains and trams. Instead of getting stuck in assumptions like “It’s too expensive” or “I have university tomorrow anyway”, try shifting your mindset and find ways. You’ll be surprised how many affordable and manageable experiences are out there once you stop overthinking.
3. Keep yourself busy:
Homesickness feels heavier when your days blur. If you stay in your room all day or if you get bored daily, obviously you will get homesick. So keep your free time filled with interesting activities and make your time memorable as keeping busy and surrounding yourself with friends are great distractions. If you are confused, how can you keep yourself busy? So think about what’s something that puts a smile on your face when you think about it? For example, I love to do makeup especially on others’ faces. A few years ago, when I started university, I created an Instagram page where I used to post makeup reels and transition videos in my free time. Because of that, a lot of people, especially from my university, used to come to me for makeup for proms or other events. I really enjoyed it and never felt bored. And now, what started as a fun hobby has turned into something much bigger like I have built a strong client base and today, I’m proud to say that I’m doing makeup professionally and getting recognized for it.
Similarly, you can do something that makes you feel happy like you can create a page for casual clothing, permanent jewellery or just bento cakes. As social media has made it so easy for us to start something without needing a physical shop or huge investment. You can also explore something you’re passionate about whether it’s graphic designing, online tutoring, or freelancing. This way, the extra income gives you more flexibility in your budget as a result, you won’t have to cancel the weekend plans or outings. Plus, it will keep you active so you won’t feel homesick. Not just this, you will soon realize the feeling of being independent. Moreover, if you are not interested in doing any kind of work for now, then simply make a daily plan to do something just for yourself. For example, Monday could be library hour, Thursdays for a matcha walk and Sundays for K dramas as it’s better to do something in your free time instead of just lying down.
4. Setup weekly calls with your loved ones:
Homesickness peaks when connection drops. You may start to feel isolated, especially in moments of stress or failure. Sometimes, homesickness can make existing mental health challenges more difficult to cope with as a result it becomes harder for you to stay motivated, focus on your studies or even enjoy your time abroad.So staying connected with your family or close friends can help you to feel emotionally supported during tough or lonely moments. Let’s say you’re having a rough week maybe because of your overwhelming classes or you’re struggling to adjust to cultural differences. A 20-minute call with a friend who always cracks jokes, or a video chat with your mom who gives you advice and motivates you, can turn your mood around. It might not solve the problem, but it reminds you you’re not facing it alone. Remember don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings with your friends as they might understand you better than you think and seriously what’s the point of struggling alone when you don’t have to?
Because of different time zones and busy schedules, you might not be able to talk daily but at least set up one weekly call as it helps you to stay connected, share how things are going and feel emotionally supported, even from miles away. And now we have many ways to call and see our friends and family in real-time from overseas. For example, Whatsapp, FaceTime, Zoom, Google meet or Botim. Also, send pictures of all your abroad adventures to stay connected with people back home and share all these new experiences you are having abroad.
5. Take a break from Social media:
Social media has made it easier than ever to keep track of what everyone is doing at all times. Because of this, when we see other people with fun friend groups, looking very happy, or spending time with both family and friends like they are going to events or family trips, we feel a little sad. Sometimes we even feel jealous and wonder, “Why isn’t my life like that?” But the truth is, no one’s life is perfect. We only see the good parts people choose to show. This happens not only with friends, but also with influencers. They seem very happy, but we don’t know what problems they may have in real life. We start comparing our lives to others, which makes us feel stressed and homesick.
That’s why it’s important to limit your time on Instagram, TikTok, or other social apps. If we keep scrolling for hours, our mind stays stuck in those thoughts and we might even start to feel homesick or sad. Yes you can still use social media but don’t overuse it. Take small breaks, focus on real life and remember: what you see online is not always real. Your own life matters more so instead of wasting time on social media you can find ways to relax and unwind, such as listening to music, reading a book, or meditating. And if you are a girl then you can go to Salon for a relaxing spa treatment or a new haircut as it can boost your mood and you will feel more relaxed but if you are a boy then you can join the gym as regular exercise can help you feel more energized, improve your physical health and boost your mood which is a great way to reduce anxiety you maybe feeling due to culture shock.
Homesickness is real and it hurts but it’s not the end of your story. Students who move abroad for the first time often face problems like homesickness, culture shock and adjusting to a new lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean if a problem comes, you should get scared, go back to your home country and waste your admission fee and everything else. In fact, everyone learns from these experiences and facing such challenges alone makes a person confident.
So if you’re reading this right now, maybe this is the moment to give yourself some comfort and encouragement. Start small, like doing something that makes you happy. For example, go for a walk, call your best friend or make a weekend bucket list.
Struggling with homesickness or have a tip that worked for you? Share your story in the comments or send us a DM we’d love to hear from you. Let’s support each other through this journey.