Handy Tips On How To Deal With Homesickness At Uni

If you've just moved away for university, you may be struggling with homesickness. After all, this is most likely the first time you've been away from home and outside of the comfort of your home town.

Moving somewhere new and by yourself can be pretty stressful, so it's completely normal that you might be feeling homesick at university.

But don't worry, this is such a common thing for people to experience, so there's loads of advice out there to help you cope. We've pulled together some top tips on how to deal with homesickness at uni...

How long does homesickness last?

First of all, let's provide some reassuring stats to ease your mind a little!

While it's impossible to say exactly how long homesickness will last - as this can depend on several factors including personality, distance from home, frequency of contact with home and culture - you might be relieved to hear that for many, homesickness can last from as little as a week to a few months or in some cases around a year.

Something that you might find reassuring is knowing that around 70% of freshers experience homesickness within the first few days of joining university according to the National Union of Students (NUS), so you're certainly not alone in this. And this of course isn't limited to freshers - even if you're returning for your second or third year, it's completely normal to experience feelings of homesickness.

Hopefully the following tips will help you to manage this effectively!

Speak to someone

Chances are somebody else is feeling exactly the same as you, so opening up an honest conversation can be beneficial for everyone! This can also be a great way to bond with your new friends. If you bottle up your feelings it might only make it worse, so get chatting! Grab a tea or coffee and spill.

If you don't feel comfortable talking to a new friend there will be somebody at university that you can talk to. A councillor or a lecturer will always be willing to listen to you. They're there to help... It's literally their job!

If you think counselling could be beneficial for you, take a visit to your university's student union or student services department where they'll be able to point you in the right direction.

Get outside and explore your new home

Staying in your room alone can make your mind wander. Scrolling through Instagram seeing your home friends doing things without you won't be a joyful experience and can only heighten those feelings of homesickness.

So instead, why not go for a walk to explore your new area? You might find a new place you love and is all your own, whether that's a friendly coffee shop or a local park.

Uni life isn't all about nights out and drinking - you should also prioritise getting to know your new city/town and make the most of everything it has to offer. Sightseeing and exploring other nearby places can really help you to fall in love with your new environment, in turn helping to reduce those feelings of longing for home.

Bring home comforts to university

We all have little things that remind us of home. Whatever brings you comfort when you're home, bring it to uni!

Whether it's a teddy bear you were gifted when you were little or a blanket that keeps you warm at night, they could be essential items to keep the homesickness at bay.

Something students often do when moving into their new home is decorating their bedroom walls with photographs of friends and family; this can be a nice reminder that they're always there even if you're not physically close to them.

It can also make your new space feel more familiar and cosy. This is a particularly good idea if you're studying abroad.

Stay in touch with people at home

Hearing a familiar voice can set your mind at ease. Remember, your friends and family at home are always just a phone call away!

Having a catch up with your bestie or a gab with your mum can make you remember why you went to university in the first place. The person on the other end of the phone can reassure you that you're doing great!

Equally, it's a good idea not to communicate constantly with those at home - if you're messaging non-stop, this can stop you from living in the present and getting to know new people. It's all about balance.

Why not arrange a visit back home (if this is an option) so that you know you can look forward to being reunited with your loved ones in the near future? It might just calm your thoughts and relieve some of that homesickness whilst you're at uni.

And remember, if your hometown is quite a distance from your uni city and requires a train or coach journey, you can make savings on travel with TOTUM! Get a third off train fare with with a Digital Railcard or earn cashback with National Express and TOTUM Cashback - either way, TOTUM is here to help make your journey back home that little bit more cost-effective.

Give yourself time; allow yourself to feel homesick

There's absolutely nothing wrong with feeling homesick at university. Of course it isn't a nice feeling, but it's good to remind yourself that it's totally normal and that thousands of people experience this.

Studies show that 'toxic positivity' - aka the idea that no matter how bad a situation is, people should always remain positive - does more damage than good, so don't feel obliged to put on a brave face 24/7.

Let yourself feel your emotions; feeling homesick at uni isn't a weakness, it's a natural part of being somewhere new.

Research shows that talking about emotions, including negative emotions, may even help the brain better process feelings - so let it out!

Treat yourself and make plans

Arranging plans with your new friends or planning a visit from people from home can really help to keep you busy and focused.

What's more, we all deserve a treat every so often and there's no better time to do this than when you're feeling down in the dumps.

A major perk of starting university is that you'll now be eligible for student discount, meaning you can make the most of TOTUM's fantastic offers with a huge range of brands - including everything from travel deals to fashion and homeware discounts.

If you're still in the process of making your new home feel more cosy and familiar, why not grab 10% off when you shop home accessories at SONGMICS or 15% off everything at BHS!

If you fancy doing a little IKEA haul too, TOTUM Cashback will be your best friend - you can earn money back each time you spend at IKEA!

It's by no means a cure all, but a little treat can really perk you up and prioritising your space in particular is money well spent.

How to overcome homesickness at night

Finally, a quick tip for those who find that they struggle with homesickness mostly of a night time.

Winding down and clearing your head before attempting to sleep can really help you to stop focusing on your homesickness, which is why so many experts recommend things like meditation and yoga to relax both your mind and body before bed.

Keeping a gratitude journal might also be a great way to overcome homesickness at night, as it can be great to think about at least three things you're grateful for to shift your frame of mind from focusing on the things you might be missing.

Hopefully these tips will make the transition to uni that bit easier - feel free to check out some of our other guides for students:

• Is It Better To Move Out For University?

• Do Students Need A TV Licence?

• University Students' Guide: How To Study Abroad

• Do Students Pay Council Tax?