When living abroad, combatting homesickness is definitely one of the most challenging parts.
It doesn’t matter if you’re studying, working, or simply traveling for an extended period of time, being apart from your friends and family might be exhausting.
To make it less challenging and overwhelming, we’ve outlined the basics of how to avoid feeling homesick.
Let’s get started and shake off this annoying feeling.
Make new friends
Nothing makes you feel better in a foreign country than making new buddies. It also can be a very helpful treat when you miss someone from back home.
However, although it helps to reduce homesickness, it can distance you from your friends and family even more.
And you don’t want to forget your loved ones in your homeland.
Don’t allow the new friends to overtake your full attention. Instead, share attention with both – new friends and the ones living abroad.
You will feel connected with your loved ones, yet will stay open to new friendships. This combination won’t let you feel homesick.
Keep in touch with people back home in an original way
Connecting with your friends and family via the internet or phone calls is essential in order to avoid loneliness in a foreign land.
However, it can become annoying, you may lack the time or be bored by constant calling.
To make the communication more vivid and interesting, think outside the box.
And by saying that, we mean sending an actual box to your homeland!
Package shipping is a great way to connect and cheer your loved ones up. For instance, if you’re living in the USA and have left your loved ones in Romania, send them a package full of American treats.
Package shipping to Romania from the USA can be a way out of feeling homesick and disconnected.
Keep yourself busy
When you’re lonely and sad, one of the best medicine to cure these feelings is keeping yourself busy with different activities.
For example, visiting new places, riding a bicycle, joining yoga classes, or learning a language you’ve always wished to learn.
Whichever activity sounds great for you, don’t hesitate to start now.
It will help reduce the number of heartbreaking thoughts going over and over in your head about the missed ones living in another country.
Have familiar things around you
Things like the pictures of your loved ones as well as a simple map of your homeland can reduce the homesickness you are feeling.
Although you might think it’s just a reminder to feel even sadder, it actually helps to engage and “become a friend” of this homesick feeling.
Don’t avoid remembering what you’ve left in your homeland. Instead, use these memories as fuel to boost your motivation on everyday tasks.
Take care of yourself
When you’re sad and overwhelmed, it’s easy to forget to look after yourself.
But make sure to keep yourself healthy and rested. The following things are the must:
- Always have water with you and stay hydrated
- Make sure you’re eating well and enough
- Get a good night’s sleep every night
- Find a health care provider and go for a health check-up
These are just a few basic tips for you to avoid unpleasant feelings when being apart from your homeland and loved ones.
However, each person is different, thus different things and activities can help you feel better.
Hopefully, some of the advice above will actually help you feel better when you miss your home.
If not, be creative and find your personal way to feel better.
And if you still cannot reduce this heartbreaking feeling, consider visiting your homeland more often than you’ve planned.