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How to Cope with Homesickness at College: 6 Steps to Follow

beat homesickness at University

Homesickness is a common experience for college students, especially for freshers and for those who are studying far away from home. Being away from familiar places, people and routines can be difficult, but there are ways that you can learn how to cope with feelings of homesickness and stay connected with family and friends.

In this article, we will reveal 6 steps to help cope with homesickness.

Step 1: Stay connected to family and friends

cope with homesickness stay connected

Keeping in touch with family and friends is important to overcome homesickness. You can do this by using social media, video chat, or scheduling regular phone or video calls. You can also send physical mail to keep things more personal and closer to your loved ones.

Step 2: Create a connection to home

cope with homesickness decorate room

You can create a connection to your home by decorating your college dorm or apartment with personal items from home, you can do this by adding photos, artwork, or mementos. You can also cook or bake familiar dishes from home to remind you of home.

Step 3: Get involved in Social Activities

cope with homesickness by socialising

Choosing to socialize more and getting involved in activities on campus, such as clubs or organizations, can help you make new friends, gain new experiences, and develop a sense of community. It can also be a great way to meet people with similar interests and backgrounds as you.

Step 4: Reach out for support

deal with homesickness with support

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and are feeling unable to cope with homesickness, it’s important to reach out for help to ensure that you stay as healthy and happy as you can be. You can talk to friends, family, a counselor, or a teacher. Your school’s counseling center may offer specialized assistance to students who are struggling with homesickness.

Step 5: Be open-minded

homesickness at university

Homesickness can be tough but it’s also an opportunity to learn about yourself and the world around you. You can make the most of this experience by trying new things and being open to new experiences.

Step 6: Plan a visit home

homesick visit home

If you’re feeling especially homesick, you can plan a visit home during school breaks. Spending time with your loved ones can provide a much-needed emotional boost and recharge your batteries.

In conclusion, homesickness is a common experience for college students studying far from home. It’s important to cope with homesickness by staying connected with family and friends, creating a connection to home, getting involved in activities on campus, reaching out for help, being open-minded, and planning a visit home. By taking these steps, students can overcome homesickness and make the most of their college experience.

It is important to remember that homesickness is a normal feeling and that it will eventually pass. By staying connected with loved ones, finding activities that you enjoy, and being open to new experiences, you can make the most of your time away from home. Remember that you are not alone in this experience and that there are people who are willing to help you. Reach out for help if you need it and take the time to take care of yourself and your mental health.

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Our guide to staying healthy at university

Student life is full of tons of new experiences. Juggling lectures, studying, parties, and work can cause you to put staying healthy at university on the back burner. The lure of cheap and tasty fast food can steer you away from fresh fruit and veg more than you realize. As well as this, it’s easy to count clubbing as your own cardio. While you might get energetic on the dance floor, it’s less effective if you’re downing sugary drinks and snacking on late night chips afterwards.

Staying healthy at university is about building good habits and making it as easy as possible to stick to them, even under pressure. For many, uni is the first time they’re making decisions without their parents around to remind (or nag at) them. Here are a few bits of advice for staying healthy at uni and ways to make it easier to stick to your health resolutions. 

1. Start by making good sleep a priority

When we say make sleep a priority, it doesn’t mean sleeping past that first (or second) lecture because you were having another late night. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, especially when the days are filled with studying, lectures, work, and more. Without sleep, you’ll be grumpy and struggle to socialize. When you do study, you’ll find it hard to stay focused.

While it can be tough to head home before the party’s over, getting to bed at a reasonable time is crucial. You might have FOMO in the moment, but you’ll thank yourself later. Don’t be tempted to pull all-nighters when you’re behind on work either! Professors would prefer you ask for an extension than hand in something you blearily threw together at 4 AM.

2. Try to get moving daily

Exercise has so many benefits. It can improve your ability to remember the crucial points of your lectures and studies. This means you’ll be able to concentrate better and think more critically. It’s normal not to always feel like getting up to go for a ramble or hitting the gym. However, experts say if you do, you’ll feel better afterwards because exercise boosts your mood. And if you have difficulty getting to sleep on time every night, a good workout can help tire you out. By bedtime, you’ll be ready to relax. 

Your uni will have a ton of sports clubs and groups at all levels. Joining one can be a great way to meet people you’d never have come across, as well as keeping fit. If you prefer to work out alone, try running, yoga, or swimming.

Need a way to get active every day but don’t have the time? Take your bike to uni and pedal around instead of taking the bus. Your travel time has now become your work-out time – doubly efficient!

Student doing yoga on laptop as part of staying healthy at university
Photo credit: Luke SW, Shutterstock

3. Your diet makes a significant impact—plan ahead

Chips, pizza, and convenient takeaway can quickly become a daily habit. Not getting enough nutrients can obviously affect you physically. It can also make it harder to concentrate on your work and remember the things you’re there to study. Because many students are on the go all day, planning is essential. Choose a quieter day each week and prep your meals in advance. Have them ready in the fridge for fast grab-and-go. 

4. Drink of choice? 

It sounds too good to be true, but water will do you wonders. Many people don’t realize how vital staying hydrated is, especially after a fun night out. Stop drinking alcohol before you’ve had too much, and make sure to pound the water before you go to sleep.

It’s a simple step for a simple habit—get a refillable water bottle and keep it with you. Some even have marks on the side, so you can track your water intake throughout the day!

Water bottles with hourly intake markings as part of staying healthy at university.
Photo credit: HYDRATE, Amazon

5. Doctors and dentists are so important to staying healthy at university

If you’re heading to uni and it’s far from home, remember to sign up with a local doctor and dentist. Don’t hesitate go to them when you’re not feeling quite right. While students tend to be a fairly healthy group overall, sometimes issues pop up that need attention. Your sore throat that hasn’t gone away for weeks, or a run-down feeling that no amount of sleep can fix. A painful tooth, or blurry vision. Any of these probably mean it’s time to head in for a checkup. Lots of clinics in student areas also have drop-in hours when you can visit without an appointment.

6. Your mental health matters, too

Your mental health can impact your physical health, and vice-versa. And university life is full of new changes and pressures that can get to anyone. If you need help, reach out. Many universities have tons of resources for students, and your doctor is another resource. Don’t wait to speak up when stress levels get too high. While studying, schedule frequent breaks to move your body and chat to friends. 

Practice healthy habits for uni success 

Your time at university can be a fantastic learning experience for your course of study and the life experience you’ll get. But don’t forget to take care of your health! You’ll get much more out of your time there and feel better during the process. 

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Discover cheap things to do in London for students

Are you staying in your London uni halls over the holidays? Returning home from campus to the capital? Planning a day trip for some fun during the break? Take advantage of any free time you have in the big city, and try out some of these cheap things to do in London. They’re perfect for a student budget!

We know you’ll probably be studying hard this holiday, but all work and no play will leave you burnt-out and miserable. Though your time off may be limited, use our tips to make the most of it.

Museums and history

London’s museums are amazing, and most of them are completely free. These include the British Museum, the Museum of London, the Wellcome Collection and more! Some of these have exhibitions on that you need to pay for, but they keep the prices pretty low. The Science Museum’s fighter jet simulator is just £6, and the Horniman Museum’s magical aquarium is £4.50. For cheap things to do in London after sunset, check out funky late night events at the Science Museum, V&A, and Natural History Museum. They’re all free (though some are ticketed).

Want a quick glimpse of London’s history? The changing of the guard happens at 11:00 am almost every day at Buckingham Palace. The Tower of London’s Ceremony of the Keys happens every night at 9:30 pm. Both are completely free, but for the latter online booking is essential.

One of London’s best-kept secrets is the Mithraeum, a Roman temple hidden underneath the Bloomberg buildings in the City of London. Dedicated to the mysterious figure of Mithras, you can visit without paying a penny.

The Great Court of the British Museum, full of visitors.
The British Museum. Photo credit: Konmac, Shutterstock

Art and architecture

Lots of art museums, like both the Tate Britain and Tate Modern, National Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Arts are free. Keep an eye out for free exhibitions at the Curve at the Barbican Centre too!

For something festive, Winter Light is a free, open-air exhibition at the Southbank Centre featuring ten festive installations from famous artists. Or, go hear some carols inside St Paul’s. Every year, the legendary London landmark hosts a series of free, non-ticketed carol concerts.

Looking for more architecture? On the first Wednesday of every month, visitors can see ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’ for free. The Baroque murals covering Greenwich’s Painted Hall were painted more than 300 years ago, but have just been restored. Somerset House, the last of the huge palaces that used to line the Thames in central London, also offers free tours. Alternatively, Severndroog Castle in south London is only £3.50. It’s great for panoramic views of the city, ancient woodland and general Gothic vibes.

The great outdoors

London’s green urban spaces are really special. Though it’s cold outside, on bright days you’ll still enjoy places like Green Park, Hyde Park and St James’s Park. Lots of these also have pedalo boats you can rent. These are usually around £4 and great fun if the weather holds out! For the really brave at heart, you can swim in the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds for £2 per day. Sack off the gym pool and join in if you dare!

A good walk with a friend is priceless, making it one of our favourite cheap things to do in London. Stroll along the South Bank, follow the towpath through Little Venice, or join one of Strawberry Tours’ free London walking tours. If you want to relax in nature while actually staying indoors, try the Sky Garden (free) or the gorgeous Barbican Conservatory (free on Sundays!).

Hyde Park, one of the best cheap things to do in London!
Hyde Park. Photo credit: Ingus Kruklitis, Shutterstock

Culture

Use websites like todaytix, or the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, for £20 West End tickets. But for a cheaper theatre alternative, standing tickets at Shakespeare’s Globe are just £5. Arrive early, and you’ll be close enough to touch the stage. The Royal Ballet also offers £5 tickets for amphitheatre seats right at the top of the Royal Opera House. Bring binoculars and enjoy!

Lots of London’s best comedy shows are either free or very cheap. You then tip what you can at the end depending on what you think it was worth. Our favourites include the Bill Murray in Angel and the Top Secret Comedy Club in Covent Garden.

For cinema lovers, the PeckhamPlex shows all new movies at ’90s prices. The House of Vans in Waterloo runs free cinema nights, as well as its other events like skate school and live music nights. And for cinema haters, Old Street’s Crap Film Club screens a different terrible movie every month. Early-bird tickets are £5.

Views

See the city from the top of Monument’s 311 stairs for just £5, or from the eighth floor of the OXO Tower for free. For outdoor alternatives, look out at the capital from Primrose Hill or Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath.

Try the Emirates Air Line (nicknamed the Dangleway) for a cheaper version of the London Eye. The cable car opened in 2012, so as cheap things to do in London go, it still feels like a novelty. It crosses the Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Victoria Dock, and best of all, it’s only £3.50!

Your favourite cheap things to do in London

Did we miss any must-see activities? Have you tried any of our recs and enjoyed them? Let us know in the comments below!