Every student gets homesick once in a while

Here’s 5 friendly ways to feel better

I remember my Dad’s advice when he waved me off to university for the first time. There will be highs and lows to student life. However, as an excitable fresher looking forward to endless weeks of meeting new people and being exposed to exciting opportunities I couldn’t begin to image what the ‘lows’ might be.

But the truth is, everyone struggles from time to time at university. It’s a huge adjustment to a completely new way of life and (almost) independent adulthood. Much of what you’ll be experiencing will be for the first time too.

That means it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and yearn for the comfortable and familiar life you’ve left behind.

In this blog you’ll discover four handy tips for overcoming those common twangs of missing home. Remember, at some point all students feel the same, even if not everyone admits it!

1. Communal Sunday Meal

There’s no better way to make yourself feel less homesick than bringing the comforting Sunday-vibes of a family dinner to your student kitchen.

Cooking a big meal for everyone to enjoy will also show you that you’re able cope on your own.

Get everyone together and assign each person a food item to buy – this way it works out really cheaply for you all.

The feeling of sitting around a table with other people and enjoying a meal together is a really good way of combating loneliness and providing the home comforts that you’re missing in your student house.

It’s also a really good way of getting to know your flatmates – and will probably reveal who the best and worst cooks are in the house! (remember to save the washing up for those who don’t do any cooking).

Another blogger has laid out some advice about communal cooking, with a Christmas theme.

2. Call your friends and family

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone to your nearest and dearest.

I know I often felt like I was calling my parents ‘too much’ at the start of university.

That annoying voice at the back of my head was saying to me “They’ll think you’re not having fun”.

But really, they’re probably really happy to hear from you and will provide just the pick-me-up you need from hearing a friendly, familiar voice.

3. Join a sports team or society

I know it sounds like a cliché but if you don’t feel like you’re fitting in with your flatmates or new friends, joining a society is a great way of meeting new people and getting the opportunity to go on really fun nights out.

People who organise societies and their associated events are almost always very inclusive and enthusiastic to have new members – and there’s pretty much a society for everything at university (even a wine society) so you don’t even need a specific hobby to join.

During my third year I have started salsa dancing once a week and the whole evening is always so uplifting – everyone is laughing and not taking it too seriously which could be just the break you need during a stressful week of studying.

4. Don’t compare yourself to others

One of the major pitfalls of the modern age and social media is people comparing themselves to their friends on the internet and how many fun-looking Snapchat stories and Instagram pictures they are uploading with all their new ‘friends’.

In reality, everyone’s uni experience is completely different – people make different friends at different points in the year.  There’s really no point in comparing your experiences based solely on pictures and things you share online.

Try to enjoy your own time at uni as much as possible without focusing too much on what other people are doing!

If you continue to struggle with homesickness while studying, there are plenty of well-being services within universities for you to get further help. But it’s important to remember to never feel alone when you experience homesickness and loneliness because no one’s student lives are completely plain-sailing – although lots of people seem to try and pretend that they are!

If you think things are getting on top of you, remember that you don’t have to cope this alone. You can get help from your university at the following places:

Birmingham students

University of Birmingham: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/welfare/mental-health/index.aspx

Birmingham City University: http://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/student-affairs/enablement-and-wellbeing

Bristol students

University of Bristol: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/

University West of England: https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/healthandwellbeing.aspx

Cardiff students

Cardiff University: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/student-life/student-support

Cardiff Metropolitan: https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/study/studentservices/Pages/default.aspx

Nottingham students

University of Nottingham: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices/healthwelfare/index.aspx

Nottingham Trent University: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/CurrentStudents/StudentSupport/

Everyone

Student Minds: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/findsupport.html

Rehab 4 Addiction (free support line): http://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk