5 Easy Ways to Reduce Homesickness in College

There’s nothing more natural when you’re living away from home for the first time than experiencing feelings of homesickness. When you are living in the comfort of your parent’s house you tend not to appreciate things like home-cooked meals, having people who love you and care about you looking after you, and relatively free access to the bathroom. College surrounds us with a world of new responsibilities, and a world of strangers who aren’t obligated to care about us in the way people may have at home. Pretty soon, we start to pine for what’s familiar. This can be damaging if it takes your mind away from your studies and keeps you from being able to enjoy your college experience. Click site

For your homesick college students, here are some tips for managing the blues of being away from home.

1. Don’t Wallow; Get Engaged

Not having your old friends around sucks, but making new friends should be an awesome adventure. All you have to do is put yourself in places where you can meet people, and be willing to make conversation. Join an interesting club. Get involved with student government. Don’t expect to click with each person you meet, but have the confidence to get to know people. As you do, you’ll develop new relationships naturally.

1. Stay Busy

That shouldn’t be too hard. You’ll have plenty of studying to do in college, and will be spending plenty of time in class. While friends and family are great, solitude and study are important parts of self-development as well as your academic career. Become comfortable with this central part of your college experience and soon you’ll be too busy being an awesome student to be debilitated by homesickness. You could also check this site for health information.

1. Speak with your counselor

Your campus will have student counselors, as well as resident advisors in the dorms who are there to help you acclimate to your new environment. Don’t make the mistake of thinking there is any shame in speaking to them and asking them for advice about settling into your new life at school. Chances are that after helping many students before you they will have some good perspectives for you too!

1. Volunteer

One of the best ways to make a new place feel like home is to make yourself useful in your new surroundings. A great way to do that is to volunteer in your local community. You could do this at a local animal shelter, retirement home, or even a political campaign…whatever floats your boat! You’ll meet people with whom you’ll likely develop a connection while doing something positive at the same time.

1. Stay Connected with your Family

This is probably the most obvious one, but stay connected with your family and friends back home. You’re away at college, after all, not on the moon! Don’t overdo it and use Facebook and the telephone as a crutch, but check in on the phone here and there letting your folks know how things are getting along for you at the University of Southern California or New York University. Text cool pictures to your brother or sister; include them all in your life away from home. Having the security of being able to remind yourself that you have people who love you and care for you who are always just a phone call away is a big part of enjoying your life away from home! Get More Info

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