College students experience homesickness often. Here are some beneficial tips for dealing with these feelings. Adjusting to a new campus, roommate, expectations, courses, and routine takes a fair amount of time and patience. By nature, we tend to resist change and struggle to hold on to familiar surroundings like the comforts of home, family, and friends. If you're struggling to beat the blues, here are ten homesickness helpers to pick you up.
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Get involved! Social groups and events are a core part of your college experience. Just glance at FC Events, NAU's campus calendar or the student newspaper to find out what's happening at your school. Attend a sporting event, concert or campus sponsored program.
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Do something you enjoy! Almost everyone has a favorite hobby, sport, or pastime. Go on a morning run, read a good book, add some pages to your scrapbook, paint, or shoot some hoops. Doing something you enjoy will add some happiness to your day and take your mind off of thinking of home. If you don't think you have a hobby, college is a perfect place to try something new and find out more about what you like and what you're good at.
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Get organized! Take some time to keep track of what's going on everyday. A planner or pad of sticky notes can help you remember important stuff like phone numbers, homework due dates, assignments, plans for the weekend.
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Go out with a friend! A trip to the local ice cream hang out or pizza joint can cure most anything. An older student or someone you can confide in can help make your transition from home a little easier. You might even discover your friend is struggling with the same problems as you.
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Keep in touch with your family! Keeping in touch with your parents or little sister will help both of you adjust to your move to college. But if writing a letter is too cumbersome and the cost of regular phone calls is the reason for your ten day fast, it's probably time to make use of more modern technology. Send e-mail to each other or set up an online account so you can video chat with friends around the country.
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Write in a journal or diary! Here's your next assignment in Homesickness 101: Try writing in a journal or diary the next time you are feeling down. Don't worry, spelling and punctuation won't count on this one. Just write down what's on your mind and express some of your worries and fears. Over time, you can reflect on what you wrote and see how far you've come.
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Volunteer! Forget about your problems by giving service to others. You could volunteer to work with students at an elementary school or serve as a Big Brother or Big Sister. You will build new relationships and enjoy the satisfaction of helping others.
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Visit some place new! Catch the bus to see a new side of town or plan a weekend get-away with friends. Exploring your new home-away-from home will add some excitement to the daily grind of classes and coursework. You may even meet new friends or find a favorite hang out.
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Contact an old friend! Going separate ways after high school graduation can be a little depressing. After all, these are your friends you've grown up with, survived the last four years of high school with, and shared experiences with like your first kiss, Mr. Boring's history class, prom and lots of other high school memories. But however far apart you are your friendship isn't over. Plan to do something with your old friends when you are home during a break. You will look forward to the reunion and enjoy remembering old times together.
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Set goals! A little homesickness is normal as you adjust to your new school and surroundings, but you can't let it dampen your spirit. Now is a good time to remember your dreams and think about how much you can accomplish with a little effort and hard work. Write down what you want to accomplish and commit yourself to working towards your goals. Your attitude and confidence will improve as you progress.