It’s not just you—everyone feels homesick at some point. While attending university in the U.S., my home in Hong Kong felt so far away. And now, living in the U.K., I’m still miles from home. Experiencing homesickness is something I’ve come to understand deeply, but I’ve also found ways to manage it and find comfort in the unfamiliar. If you’re feeling sad or homesick, know that it’s completely normal and okay. Here are some strategies that have worked for me and might help you, too.
1) Write letters back home to family. This is kind of old-school, but there’s something so meaningful about putting pen to paper. Writing letters to my family not only helps me feel closer to them but also gives me a chance to share my experiences with them. I’ve started collecting postcards from the places I travel to and then sending them home to my family. To me, this makes the distance feel just a little bit smaller.
2) Make your space feel like home. Your surroundings can have a big impact on how you feel. Make your room feel more like home with photos and mementos from home or your travels. I brought family pictures to pin on my bulletin board, but you can also print photos locally (shops like Boots UK offer affordable photo printing). Adding additional decorations like a plant on the windowsill or a stuffed animal on your bed can make your space feel like home.
3) Spend time with your friends. When you’re homesick, it’s easy to feel lonely, so spending time with your friends will help you feel connected. Chances are, they’re feeling the same way. Share dinners, watch movies, or just chat about your day. It’s important to cultivate a sense of community while abroad so these moments of connection can help you feel more grounded in your new environment.
4) Take yourself out on solo dates. One of my favourite ways to cope with homesickness is to treat myself and take myself on solo dates. I’ll go to a cosy café with a good book or visit a museum alone. Have you ever gone to a museum by yourself? I recently visited the Victoria and Albert Museum here in London alone on a whim. I listened to a classical music playlist and wandered around enjoying the art, surprisingly, it was very therapeutic. Being intentional about exploring your surroundings and keeping busy will help distract you from the homesickness and give you something to look forward to.
5) Journal. When you start feeling homesick, journaling can be a powerful tool. Writing down your thoughts and feelings helps you process them and creates a space to reflect on your experiences.
6) Video call your friends and family back home. We’re so lucky that nowadays our loved ones are just a button click away. Although time differences can be difficult, whenever I miss home, I set aside time for video calls with my family and friends. It’s comforting to see familiar faces and hear their voices. Try and make a point to schedule a weekly call with family and friends back home to catch up.
7) Comfort food. Food has a unique way of connecting us to home. Whenever I’m longing for Hong Kong, I treat myself to comfort foods that remind me of home, like a warm bowl of soup noodles. Whatever brings you comfort, visit grocery stores or restaurants that offer dishes from your culture—it can be a little taste of home when you need it most.
Homesickness is a normal part of studying abroad, but by finding small ways to bring comfort and familiarity into your life, you can create a sense of home wherever you are. It’s a part of the journey and don’t forget to embrace the adventure of living somewhere new. You’ve got this!
