How to Cure Homesickness: 8 Ways To Help You When You're Missing Home.

It's a fairly common emotional response to being away from home during the holidays or any extended period of time. Most expatriates feel some level of homesickness when they’re away from home and their family, caving to those feelings can make things worse in the long run.

My homesickness occurs several times a year, but I've noticed it tends to get worse as the season changes from Spring | Summer to Autumn | Winter. It’s important to know how to cure homesickness and find ways to cope with it so that it doesn’t disrupt your life any further than necessary. There are many ways to get over the homesick blues, whether you’re feeling blue because you miss your family at home or just need a break from being with other people all the time. If you feel like you’re experiencing more than a standard case of homesickness, know that it’s not uncommon and there are many different ways to help yourself out of that negative space.

Talk to Someone You Trust

I find that other people who share a similar story are more understanding. I had the most wholesome "therapy" session with two women I met sometime ago, they moved from Zimbabwe to Poland a few years ago and we bonded over the loneliness we feel, being away from home, not being understood and seen.

Truly one of the best ways to cure homesickness is to talk to someone you trust. That could be a friend, family member, or even a therapist if you need to go that extra mile. Talking about the feelings you’re having can help you get them out in the open and start to process them better. You don’t have to feel alone or like you’re being too “weak” to reach out for help with this. In fact, reaching out for help is one of the healthiest things you can do when you’re feeling down. It’s important, to be honest with the person you’re talking to about the way you’re feeling and what you’re going through. They’re not mind-readers, so you have to let them know what they can do to help.

Exercise and Screen Time

Exercising and limiting your screen time can help with homesickness in a couple of different ways. Exercising releases endorphins, which can help you feel better and calm down if you’re feeling extra blue. It also helps you take a break from your thoughts and get more in tune with your body and the present moment.

Limiting your screen time can help you avoid the trap of getting lost in your thoughts and feelings while scrolling through social media. It can also help you avoid the trap of staying inside and avoiding social situations you might otherwise have to face.

Journaling and Meditation

Journaling or mediation are both ways of centering yourself and getting into a more present headspace.

Journaling can be a great way to write down your feelings and process them in a constructive way. If you’re journaling about feelings of homesickness, try writing down what you wish you could say to those people at home. Keeping a journal can also be a great way to stay in touch with yourself and keep track of how you’re feeling over time. Meditation can be a bit more challenging if you’re feeling extra homesick, but it’s also a great way to clear your head.

Join a Group or Activity

Easier said than done, especially since most of us were either working remotely or hybrid. And to be honest, some of us like not seeing people. But if you’re feeling homesick, you may want to avoid spending more time with people. Joining a group or activity can be a great way to get out of your head and meet new people while also getting some much-needed social support.

Some examples of groups you could join include a local charity, an art class, or a book club. Joining a sports team or a fitness challenge with locals can also be a great way to meet new people and make new friends. You can also try to find a group or activity that helps you meet new people and get out of your head at the same time. You can use Facebook groups to make connections with other expatriates. Look up Gone Girl International plus the city you currently live in. Download apps like Bumble BFF, Peanut, and yes Tik Tok. Use the search function and look up activities in your current city that you might be interested in.

Cook Your Favorite Comfort Food

Eating is a great way to take a breather from whatever is bothering you. It can help you get some perspective on your feelings and calm down if you’re feeling extra homesick. It might be difficult to source some of the ingredients, try to do some research to find if there are any small shops that might sell these ingredients. If not some online stores might have what you're looking for.

Warsaw has several shops serving expatriates from all over the world . You will find several Indian shops and Chinese mini-marts. Plus bigger shops like Kitchens of the World. While there are no Jamaican shops, I was lucky to find a few African shops in Warsaw The International Africa Shop and African Shop Macjons. They stock ingredients that I can use to cook some of my favorite Jamaican dishes. For Ukrainians living in Poland there is now a new Ukrainian supermarket.

Stay In Touch With People You Love

That can be as simple as sending a quick text or phone call to your friends and family back home or making sure you have their contact information and staying in touch with them on social media too. You can also put together a care package with some treats, souvenirs, or mementos from your travels to send back home as a way of both staying in contact and making yourself feel better in the process.

Find What Makes You Happy

Ultimately, the best way to cure homesickness is to find what makes you happy. That may be traveling and exploring new places, or it may be staying at home and spending time with the people you love.

Regardless, finding what makes you happy is one of the best ways to get over homesickness, especially when coupled with other strategies listed above like journaling, meditation, and getting out and meeting new people.

Conclusion

Homesickness can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to last forever. The holidays are fast approaching and it can be an especially challenging time if you’re feeling blue about being away from home, but there are many ways to get over the blues.

Exercising and limiting screen time can help you stay in the present moment and avoid getting sucked into your thoughts, while journaling, meditation, and joining a group or activity can help you stay connected to your feelings and meet new people along the way. Finding what makes you happy is the best way to cure homesickness and get over that negative space, and doing so can help you make the most of your time away from home.