Homesick aka longing for home or hometown is an inevitable part of moving away from home, especially for the first time. Still, the emotional stress associated with homesickness should be taken seriously. If you feel homesick, realize how important your feelings are and why. Accept the fact that adjusting to a new environment is challenging and making new friends takes time. As your new life develops, take some active steps to get rid of that homesickness.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Overcoming Feelings of Longing for Homeland
Step 1. Enjoy the freedom
This may sound like bad advice, but having fun is the best way to get rid of homesickness. Moving to a new place gives you the opportunity to choose how you want to spend your free time. It's important to focus on yourself every now and then, and being in a new place provides the perfect opportunity to do so. Tricks to enjoy a solitary life include:
- Exercising. Increase your heart rate every day, any way you like. Jogging is a great way to see your new neighborhood from a personal point of view. Jogging will let you know about the new environment and make you feel more comfortable.
- Bring something to keep you busy. If you keep a journal, always carry the journal with you. Or bring a book or magazine. Reading and writing are great ways to occupy your mind and express your thoughts.
- Do the activities you've always wanted to do. For example, bungee jumping. Or head to an art museum if this activity suits your tempo better. Remember the last time you said to yourself, "I want to try that." Whatever the activity, now is your chance!
Step 2. Push yourself to always have a positive mentality
Don't misunderstand that being alone in a new place automatically equates to loneliness. There is no rule that says being alone means feeling lonely. Remind yourself of this, verbally if necessary. Other helpful things to say to yourself include:
- My time alone is only temporary.
- Maybe today I want to be somewhere else, but everything will be better in this place.
- Everyone feels lonely from time to time.
- I'm strong and creative enough to face a certain amount of time alone.
- There are people in this world who care about me, no matter how far apart they are right now.
- I'm currently hanging out with myself, and this activity might be something I should do once in a while."
Step 3. Find alternatives to the comforts of your hometown
If you miss the familiar atmosphere of your favorite cafe in your hometown, or are worried you can't find a trustworthy repair shop, think about what these places you love are all about. Go outside and find suitable versions of these places in the city you live in now. Looking for something like your new favorite cafe will make it even more clear what kind of places you like to be.
- For example, you may notice that natural lighting is really something you focus on, and the cafes you've visited since moving to the city are darker than you're used to. If you find a sunny, bright place with a similar atmosphere to the place you've been missing, you've probably found a new favorite. What's more, the quests will let you meet tons of baristas (who can be a great source of knowledge about the local area) and see some new neighborhoods!
- Realize that finding comfort in living in a new city requires a lot of knowledge about the place. Explore and open yourself up to what the new city has to offer-including new sporting opportunities, restaurants, entertainment options, and countless public transit systems. You will find yourself comparing these things to what you used to get in the old place. This will increase your comfort in your new city and give you similarities to the places you loved most in your previous hometown.
Step 4. Determine certain days to contact your home or hometown
Designate a special day, once a week, to call home. While it may feel like it's not enough, this step will give you the space and time to start developing new social relationships in your new environment.
Step 5. Put some soothing items around you
Even if it's only subconsciously, reminders of the places and people you miss will make you feel calmer. Even though the reminder of home can also give you a hint of homesickness, the comfort of familiar items will make you more comfortable where you are now. Put photos of friends and family or things that used to be in your old room in places you see often.
Step 6. Write a conventional letter
Write a letter to an old friend you haven't spoken to in a while. This letter will mean a lot to the recipient and you will be surprised how much you enjoy the process of writing a letter by hand. If a friend agrees, make a commitment to texting each other. One letter per month will keep you in touch, build a way to put your thoughts on paper, and give you something to look forward to.
Step 7. Have something to look forward to
Looking forward to something will help keep you in a positive frame of mind. If you really miss home and can afford to visit, plan a trip in advance. This will calm you down for a while, give you something to look forward to and give you a piece of the house itself.
Method 2 of 3: Building a New Social Base
Step 1. Recognize that people are harder to replace than places
You'll find a new subscription hair salon sooner or later, but making new friends is harder. Allow yourself to miss the people who made your life so comfortable before you moved-and realize that there won't be a perfect substitute for them anywhere in the world.
Realize that a new city offers not only new friendships, but a whole new network and community to join. Don't hesitate to do it. If you miss a certain person or two, call them at night to share stories about your life with each other. You'll feel like you have more to talk about-and have more positive, equally enjoyable conversations-when you have new, fun experiences to share
Step 2. Connect with the people where you are now
Even if you don't seem so impressed, there are different groups of people no matter where you move to who would love to meet you. Whether it's based on shared life histories or shared interests, look for people who congregate based on criteria you share. For example:
- If you attend a major university and have moved to a large city, it is possible that an alumni meeting may be held there. If a quick internet search returns no results, contact your university's alumni center and they will know if there are any organized alumni groups in your new city.
- If you move to a new country, look for other people who are also from or moved from the same country as you.
- Just go with your will. There are a number of great websites designed to organize meetings based on common interests or even just casual social interaction. Check out Kaskus or Reddit, both of which have platforms to meet people in different cities around the world.,
Step 3. Accept the invitation
If someone invites you come over! Don't be afraid to instantly become friends with everyone you meet. Chances are you'll meet a lot of people who you don't have a close relationship with. You can still enjoy the interactions, and the more people you meet the more comfortable you will feel about getting out and hanging out with the community.
Step 4. Host a meal and make your own dish
This is a great way to comfort yourself with the smells and flavors of long-awaited home cooking, while developing genuine relationships with the people in your new life. Friendship that begins with sharing food is something that has existed since time immemorial. Invite people you want to get to know better to share a dish that has special meaning for you. Bring your hometown atmosphere in the "new hometown" that is being developed now.
Step 5. Volunteer
Volunteering will get you deeper into new communities, point you to new social networks and make you feel like you belong in a new city. Whatever your interests are, you can find opportunities to do volunteer work that you love, and meet people who are interested in contributing to the world in a similar way.
Step 6. Make an effort to surround yourself with other people
Be around other people. There are many ways to increase social interaction in a simple and relaxed way. If you are a student, know that this is a time in your life when you have endless opportunities to meet other people and get involved in new communities. To help weigh your options:
- Look for a list of student organizations. Most universities provide this list on their website.
- Check the campus calendar. Chances are you'll soon be attending a variety of events you've never known before. University is a great place to experience all kinds of creative expression, from music to comedy. There will almost always be something going on that interests you.
- Join the friendly league. This move will quickly get you into a new society, and will likely lead you to making new friends.
- When you are eating, especially where other people are doing similar activities (such as a dining hall or dining room), ask permission to sit at a table that is already occupied but there are still empty seats and greet people who have already sat there.
Method 3 of 3: Making Peace with Longing for Homeland
Step 1. Know where the feeling of homesickness or homesickness comes from
Living away from home, especially for the first time-perhaps going to college or serving in the military-will make you soon begin to miss many aspects of life where you used to be. Realize that the absence of people and places to make you feel loved, safe and protected can have a huge impact on your frame of mind. Missing one's hometown is an expression of feelings of longing for the comfort and security that you usually get, including routine and the feeling of being part of the community.
Step 2. Know that homesickness will come and go
As with all kinds of feelings, the burden of feelings associated with homesickness will vary. Don't be surprised by sudden moments of sadness and homesickness. These are completely normal feelings. Your mind (and body) is simply reacting to major changes in your environment.
Step 3. Don't be surprised by how strong your feelings of homesickness are
Longing for home can have serious consequences for your mind and your body. Get professional help if you are feeling unstable or feeling unbelievably sad. In particular, be aware of an increase in the following:
- Anxiety.
- Sadness and anxiety.
- Excessive obsession with thoughts about hometown.
Step 4. Tell someone how you feel
Whether you're just starting college, moving provinces for a new job, or being sent for military duty, there's bound to be someone you can talk to about the transition. Even if no one else crosses your mind, talk to someone you know who has lived elsewhere before. Not acknowledging your feelings can lead to longer lasting and worse homesickness.
Step 5. Meditate
Ask yourself, "What am I really missing?" Consider the possibility that you may just miss your old self, and are not used to the new you that you are today. New situations often make you think about deep self-reflection, and with that, a number of meaningful realizations arise that will greatly contribute to your development and maturity.
