How to Deal With Homesick

Whether you're away at school, you've just moved, or you're just away on a trip and you want to go home, there are many ways to cope with what really sometimes feels like a "sickness", and feel better over time. It is hard to be homesick, but you can get through it!

Steps:

1. Plan a short trip doing something you know you will enjoy. Perhaps just stay with a close relative or with friends you have known for a long time.
2. Keep the trip active and take things like a pack of cards to fill in the spare time. Being busy and keeping entertained is the number one way to avoid homesickness.
3. Understand the first night in a new place can often be a bit stressful. Everyone's tired from the journey and finding your way around and meeting new people is hard work. Expect this and remember things will seem much better in the morning.
4. Pack carefully, be prepared, and check with others that are going and what they are taking. If you have the right clothing and so on, you will feel more relaxed.
5. Make yourself aware of what's happening. Obviously, if you are staying with a relative, there won't be a written schedule, but ask about his or her plans and if invited to, suggest what you would like to do. If you’re away with a group, there may well be. Read it, but be flexible. It may change.
6. Keep in mind that for the first night, you can agree to text or email to say you arrived safely. A key cause of homesickness is worrying about the people at home. By reassuring them, you reassure yourself.
7. Telephone home when you are feeling positive, after going out doing something you enjoy. This convinces people at home you are fine and avoids you upsetting yourself on the phone. If you're away from home for longer periods of time, webcams are even more effective!
8. Do something about it if you start to feel homesick - and that doesn't include crying on your bed. Go find someone to talk to, have a bubble bath, read a book, watch TV, take a nap, go for a walk in your local park, anything that makes you feel better. The feeling will pass quickly when you distract yourself. Then you will realize that maybe things aren’t so bad after all!
9. Stop and think seriously about why you feel homesick or have done in the past. Was it the situation you traveled to you didn't like? Did you miss your family? Were you worrying about things at home? Work out exactly what caused the feelings, and then think how you can make it different on your next trip.
10. Agree that you should something go wrong, people at home should contact you immediately and ensure they have numbers, etc. Therefore, whenever you are not being contacted, you know things at home are OK and need not worry.
11. Eat and sleep as well as possible. When you're tired and hungry, things can seem a whole lot worse.
12. Take items that make you feel more at home: photographs, your own music or bed linen may help, or even a cuddly toy.
13. Be positive and homesickness can be beaten! If that were not the case, adults would all still live with their parents.

Tips

• Keep in mind that the very first night away might be particularly stressful. Just try to fight through it and you may find the next day gets better.
• If you have been homesick in the past, do not let it stop you staying away from home again. That was one trip. Think what you didn't like and how you could change it. Keep the next stay short and then go for it.
• Consider telling someone if you are really homesick, someone at the place with you preferably. A friend or a teacher will be willing to help make sure they know you are serious and let them know what they can do.
• Going home early is a last resort but if you are truly miserable and can see no way it could get better then ask to go home. Ring a parent and explain honestly how you feel.
• Talk to someone who is with you
• If you have just arrived at a new boarding school and you are feeling homesick don't keep it to yourself. Go and talk to another new student about it, you never know they may also be feeling homesick too. Talking about it for both of you DOES make it easier. This way, you can make a new friend as well. Once you make new friends, you are well on your way to getting settled in!

Warnings

• Do not ever ring home when you are feeling a bit down. You will feel worse probably mid-phone call and the people at home will realize this and worry about you. You will feel guilty for making them worry and hey presto you feel more homesick and upset. Agree to email, text or instant message to let everyone know you're OK instead.
• If you feel unsafe where you are, you have every right to demand to go home, unless you are very far away.