5 top tips to cope with homesickness
Starting a new chapter of your life as a university student might feel both exciting and daunting at first. Being away from home, family, friends, and leaving all the familiarity behind, can make you feel homesick, and that is completely normal. Here are some top tips on how you could tackle homesickness by focusing on the present and making the most out of your time at the University of Leeds.
- Give yourself time to adjust
The first few weeks can be the hardest. You might feel overwhelmed with moving in, settling into new routines, and feeling like you have not met your group of people yet. Be patient and be kind to yourself. It is completely okay to not have everything figured out in the beginning. You are entering a new chapter in your life, and you should be proud of yourself for coming this far.
2 . Get involved
In the University of Leeds, we want to ensure that you can flourish both academically and socially. Meeting new people will provide you with a support system that can help lessen your loneliness. In the Leeds University Union, we have over 300++ clubs and societies that you can participate in. Here you can make friends with people who have similar interests and passions as you, so you will have something in common to help you bond. If you do not want to be too committed, you’re also always welcome to join the drop-in sessions or the one-off events as well, such as Pet Therapy, Global Café, or the trips and day-outs during the weekend.
Find out more about things you can do to meet people and get involved and check the Welcome Hub for more recommendations on things to do on campus and beyond.
Leeds is such a diverse and multicultural city and here you are bound to make friends with people from all around the world.
If you’re an international student, it’s also nice to join your cultural or national society as well, so you can get the feel of being home away from home. When you stay connected with people from similar backgrounds to you, you can speak your language with them, or organise an event together to commemorate your national celebration whilst still being in Leeds. You can even invite your new friends and share each other’s culture or authentic dishes — when food is involved it can never go wrong!
If you’re from the UK, there is so much on at University to help you find your place. Whether you’re looking to keep old interests up or try something completely new, LUU can connect you with societies and opportunities that can help ease your transition to life in Leeds.
3. Bring some keepsake from home
This might sound trivial, but nothing beats the sentimentality of a family photo, or a handwritten letter, or your favourite plushie. A simple way to tackle homesickness is to make your room as cosy as it can be. This space is where you are going to spend your time relaxing in, so make it as homey as possible.
4. Get in touch with family and friends from home
Update people back home on your activities and experiences. You do not necessarily have to talk to them on a daily basis, but it would be nice to let them know that you are still thinking about them. In fact, instead of just sending short messages, try to send pictures and videos to make the conversation more alive. You are now in a new place, meeting new friends, creating new experiences. Go out, explore, and live your best life, then share those beautiful memories with your loved ones back home too.
5. Talk about your feelings
If homesickness is something that you struggle with, it might be helpful to talk about your feelings with someone you can trust, be it a friend, a family member, or a professional counselor. Here in the University of Leeds we offer a wide range of support for your mental health and wellbeing, such as the Student Counselling and Wellbeing Hub, as well as wellbeing support provided by LUU. Everything is completely confidential, non-judgmental, and you can access it for free both in-person and online.
Again, homesickness is completely normal, especially during a period of transition. Give yourself some time to get settled in your new surroundings, make the most of what Leeds has to offer and be patient…you’ll get there!
Written by Vita Cahyarani, Postgraduate Media and Communications student
