College is often fun and is filled with lots of activities, especially in the first weeks. However, at the same time, it may also be somewhat lonely because you are in a new environment with new people and new demands. Most schools attempt to ease the process of transition, so you are normally provided with social activities for the new students, but trust me, it is perfectly okay if you feel nostalgic at some point.
Statistics show that out of all college students, a staggering 94% report college homesickness in the first ten weeks of college and at varying times in their college years. The existence of homesickness can be a unique process for each of the students. Some can recall places and persons with a certain feeling of longing; however, this or similar emotion alters into such shades as anxiety, sadness, or irritability. No matter how you feel, homesickness is something that many people go through or are bound to undergo in life. Indeed, the home could be 10 miles away or in a different country, but there are some practical ways through which homesickness in college can be managed.
What Is Homesickness?
Homesickness is defined as a state of nostalgia or general feeling of discomfort that a person experiences when they are out of their comfort zone and in a different region. It influences those who have migrated for the short term to study, work, as refugees, as immigrants, or relocated because of military transfers, among others. According to earlier research, nomophobia is evident in 50-75% of generations that can experience homesickness at least at some point in their lifetime.
What Causes Homesickness?
It is almost impossible for an individual not to long for something related to home when he or she is away. But some people can be more badly affected by homesickness than others. These are some of the causes of homesickness:
One of the key reasons for homesickness is the disruption of one’s lifestyle. This disturbance interferes with daily routines and life patterns, leading to anxiety and distress when away from home. The unfamiliar structure, uncontrolled environment, and new responsibilities at college further exacerbate this stress. During such times, it is helpful to remember that services like Ghostwriter Schweiz can assist with writing academic papers. While this may not alleviate homesickness, it can certainly make the learning process more manageable.
It can also be caused by cultural distance. Evidence shows that the degree of cultural fit and perceived similarity between the home culture and the culture of the new environment have an impact on homesickness. The greater the cultural distance, the less people can adjust and thus suffer from homesickness more frequently. This results in boredom and a lack of concern with the area to which one has relocated.
Difficulty adapting can also cause homesickness. A change occurs in life, and like all other aspects, people must shift their position, but not all individuals can do it effortlessly. In a research carried out on subjects who had recently joined the army, it was found that subjects who had severe homesickness fits were those who were inflexible in their demeanor. Both continued in their previous behaviors and shied away from activities that would make them change.
How to Overcome Homesickness
Numerous college students depart from home every autumn to begin the next phase in their lives. The majority of students attending public colleges choose a school located less than 50 miles from their residence. However, whether relocating locally or long-distance, students frequently end up in unfamiliar environments that are a stark contrast to the familiarity of their own homes. Here are tips to help you overcome homesickness.
- Know That It’s Normal
It is instinctive to feel that way since it is normal to feel bored and lonely while in a new environment and yearning to be with your loved ones and pets. That is a sign that you have a secure and plausible affection towards your loved ones. First, let me admit that at the beginning, it will be quite nontrivial to adapt to the new conditions.
- Stay Connected With Loved Ones
This may be quite obvious; however, communication with friends and family from home is one of the most effective ways of minimizing homesickness at home. One can easily get occupied with everything in the first weeks of the semester, meaning that one will miss loved ones from home even more as there are many idle times in a day.
It is advisable to have a plan on how to be in touch even if you are not homesick at that particular time. It helps to avoid being caught off-guard by tough or intimidating feelings; there is always an expectation on each other to check in, so it is not awkward when it is needed more intensely. You can stay connected in other ways, such as by displaying familial objects such as photos in your new dorm room or introducing new friends to favorite games or activities one was used to do with friends before moving.
- Establish a Routine
One can be able to change his or her environment easily when there is a certain pattern to stick to. One of the challenges that begin from high school is brought about by a change of routine from the one familiar to you all your life. To restore orienting and establish new, at least for the first couple of weeks, adhere to a routine. It may also be useful to bring something from the previous schedule to the new schedule, to bring something comfortable to the new structure.
Choose several activities to be your constants – tasks that you perform daily to enable you to acclimatize. It is possible to end up with too many commitments, but the idea is to protect some parts of your day to ‘chill’ and/or ‘self-care’ because not only is homesickness bad for you, but also poor mental health.
Summary
Although it might be challenging initially, the majority of universities offer effortless ways to discover alternative choices. Campus groups are likely to organize an engagement fair at the beginning of the semester, where students can explore the wide range of clubs and extracurricular options available at the school. Attending fairs is frequently the ideal method to discover your community, as it allows you to interact with fellow students who share common interests. Be kind to yourself and understand that the feelings will pass with time.
