I've been feeling more homesick than normal the past couple of weeks. I can't quite pinpoint why, but the pangs for home have been more frequent than normal. I'm extraordinarily close with my family, so being away from them has been hard to say the least. We make the best of it and usually communicate in some shape or form every day which is awesome. It's definitely the hardest when I know they're together without me though! Can anyone else relate?
Most of the time I'm pretty well adjusted to living here in California, but I still have my moments. These are a couple of tactics I use to get through the homesickness:
1. Know when you're doing to see your family next. This is sometimes hard to do, but if you say goodbye without having a concrete date of when you'll be together again that's going to be the worst. I'm a planner by nature so I like to have things on the calendar and knowing how long of a stretch I need to get through. This one is super relevant right now because when I said goodbye to my family after being home over the 4th of July I didn't know when I would be seeing them. Now we're in the midst of getting a fall trip planned so I'm starting to feel more at ease even though fall seems so far away!
2. Plan something. It doesn't even need to be something with family (but that would obviously be the best)! If you get something on the calendar that you can look forward to it keeps your mind off of other more negative things like how much you're missing home. It could be anything from a trip to a concert to date night.
3. Bring a little bit of home to you. There's nothing wrong with being homesick and sometimes you just need to give into it and do something that makes you feel like you're at home. For me it's listening to music that my mom likes. When I hear certain songs I feel like I'm home with her in the kitchen while she sings and makes dinner. It could also be making a favorite dish that your family always has or reviving an old tradition in your new city.
4. Keep busy! This one is the most important. Last summer when I was still job hunting I was miserable because I had all day long to think about how lonely I was. Now that I have a job I'm 100% happier. I even went a little above and beyond just working and now have activities I participate in and even made some friends ;) all of these things make your new place feel more like home. You've got to put down some roots even if you have no idea how long you're going to stay for. It will never feel like home if you don't have friends, groups you're apart of, or favorite places.
Are you living away from home? How do you cope with it?
xo Catherine
2 comments
This is SO accurate!! I moved to Indiana for a job back in March and all of my family is back in Wisconsin and Iowa (so not nearly as far as you are!). It can really be a tough adjustment and some weeks suck for just no reason. These tips are my go-tos as well. It's definitely important for me to know when I'll see them next so I have that something to look forward to. I also definitely try to bring back as much as I can after I travel home - my favorite salsa which is only sold in Iowa, for instance (my sister brought me 3 jars when she last visited). It's the little things that help :) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you could relate! You're totally right that some weeks just suck for no specific reason. That's the worst. You're lucky to have family who will bring you your favorite salsa! That's adorable :)
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