How to Cope When You're Feeling Homesick

1
How to Cope When You're Feeling Homesick
2

• Whether it's your first year of postsecondary or
  your fourth, you may still feel a little down in
  the dumps when it's time to head back to school.
  Moving away from home, your family and friends is
  a big transition that can cause some people to
  feel sad and maybe even a little depressed. The
  good news is that these feelings are typically
  temporary once you've had time to adjust to
  being back to school and living in a new place,
  you're sure to feel more comfortable.
• Here's a look at homesickness and what you can
  do to help overcome these feelings faster.

3
Homesickness at a Glance

• Whether it's your first year of postsecondary or
  your fourth, you may still feel a little down in
  the dumps when it's time to head back to school.
  Moving away from home, your family and friends is
  a big transition that can cause some people to
  feel sad and maybe even a little depressed. The
  good news is that these feelings are typically
  temporary once you've had time to adjust to
  being back to school and living in a new place,
  you're sure to feel more comfortable.
• Here's a look at homesickness and what you can
  do to help overcome these feelings faster.

4

• Everyone experiences homesickness differently,
  but some common symptoms include
• Thinking of home, your family, and your friends
  often
• Feeling anxious
• Lacking motivation
• Feeling lonely and/or sad
• Withdrawing from other people
• Longing for someone from home
• Feeling irritable or negative
• Some people confuse homesickness with depression,
  but a person who is homesick will feel better
  when they return home for a visit, while an
  individual who is dealing with depression will
  still feel depressed.

5
Overcoming Homesickness

• If you're feeling homesick, it's important to
  remember that often all that's needed to start
  feeling better is time. To help alleviate some of
  the feelings associated with homesickness, try
  some of these tips
• Talk to your family members and friends about how
  you're feeling
• Set plans for visits home or schedule regular
  phone calls with your family members or friends
• Decorate your room with pictures of people and
  places from home

6

• Avoid hiding your feelings by partying
  excessively, drinking, or taking drugs
• Try different activities to help alleviate
  stress, including working out, joining a club, or
  practising deep breathing
• Remember that it's perfectly normal to feel
  homesick and that the feeling won't last forever

7
Feel Satisfied with Your New Home Away from Home

• When it comes to avoiding or alleviating
  feelings of homesickness, one thing that's key is
  to ensure you're living in a place you really
  like. Leaving home to live in student housing
  that doesn't feel safe or comfortable will only
  make you long for home more. While there are many
  places to rent in London, Ontario, choosing
  student housing like Residence on First, which
  has a good reputation for supporting its
  residents and providing safe, comfortable
  accommodations, is a great way to help keep those
  feelings at bay. Love where you live and the
  adjustment period will be that much easier.