Coping with Homesickness: Strategies for Maintaining Emotional Wellbeing Away from Home

Homesickness feels torturous. One moment you’re feeling adventurous and worldly—next minute, you’re staring longingly at pictures of your childhood bedroom or dreaming of your mum’s food. Whether you’ve moved for work, study, or the irresistible lure of “new experiences”, homesickness can hit hard.

First of all, let’s normalise it. Feeling homesick doesn’t mean you’re failing at being independent. It just means you’re human. But what can you do when you’re missing home so much?

Routine is your secret weapon. Establishing little rituals—your morning coffee in the same spot, a weekly phone call home, or a regular Sunday walk—can offer comforting structure in an unfamiliar environment. Humans like predictability. Even if it’s just knowing you’ll watch the same series every Wednesday.

Next up: connect, don’t cocoon. It’s easy to retreat into your own head when homesick—bingeing every episode of your favourite homegrown TV show—but connection is a better cure. Join a club, take a class, or even become a regular at a local café. New friendships won’t replace old ones, but they’ll build new roots.

Keep a “comfort kit” on standby. Photos, letters, your favourite snack from home. These small reminders can soothe you on tough days. But mix them with new comforts too— that quirky little park nearby or a café that does dangerously good cake.

Be mindful of the comparison trap. Social media is full of people “living their best lives” abroad— usually from the perfect angle with perfect lighting. In reality, they probably miss home too.

Finally, give yourself time. Settling into a new place is a process, not an overnight makeover montage. Be kind to yourself. Homesickness is proof you come from somewhere worth missing—but it’s also an invitation to create a new kind of home, wherever you are.

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