Homesickness can happen to anyone, whether you absolutely love everything about your college experience or you’re having a little trouble fitting in. No matter when those homesick feelings hit, however, you can deal with them without letting them ruin your day or your week. Find out how to cope with homesickness while away at college, whether you moved across the state or across the country.
Turn Your Room into Your Home
Your dorm room might not have any personality when you first move in. That doesn’t mean it has to be an unfamiliar space for the whole year, though. Start by hanging up photos of your friends, family, and pets. Leave room for photos of your new college friends so you can celebrate everything that makes you who you are. Sprinkle mementos from your hometown around your space, and connect with new friends by sharing hometown stories with each other.
Make a Point of Socializing
You might be tempted to hide in your room and dwell on your loneliness when homesickness strikes. Make a point of getting out and spending time with friends and classmates instead. Sure, your new college friends don’t know you as well as your high school friends do. Maybe you haven’t found the perfect study spot or a coffee shop where the baristas have your order memorized. Remember that when you make the most of your new living situation, it will feel familiar and homelike sooner.
Keep Connecting
In high school, the timeline for connecting with classmates often seems very firm. It isn’t always easy to make new friends or join a different group after the first few weeks of school. In college, the timing isn’t nearly as strict. In fact, you can join clubs, connect with new people, and expand your social circle all year-round. If you haven’t made the perfect group of friends in the first week or two, you still have plenty of time.
Stay in Touch
Going to college can mean a lot of adjustments for you and your high school friends. Just because you’re all busy with school and dealing with big changes doesn’t mean you can’t be there for each other, though. Try scheduling a FaceTime date or a chat session once a week so you can catch up and offer moral support. You’ll be able to maintain the connections that are important to you and get the support you need while still building an awesome college life.
Reach Out
It isn’t unusual to feel alone in your homesick state, especially if you haven’t told anyone how you feel. Keeping it to yourself is bound to make you feel worse, so let your new friends know how you’re doing. Rather than looking for commiseration, make it clear that you’re looking for fun new activities to help you feel more at home. Chances are that your new friends know just how you feel and they, too, could use some help adjusting to college life.
No matter how much you love where you came from, remember that home is where you make it. Use these tips to stay true to yourself while embracing your new home away from home.