Being in University can be so exciting – but it can also be a little bit lonely. If you find you are feeling homesick, that is totally understandable. We’ve put together some helpful tips of how to deal with homesickness.

• Be kind to yourself – remember this is a HUGE transition period and it will naturally take a while to adjust
• It’s ok to feel homesick – this isn’t a sign of weakness or a reason to be frustrated at yourself. Missing home is something most students experience and it’s good to let these emotions out
• Talk to others about how you’re feeling – it is likely other new students are feeling the same too and it helps to talk through these emotions together – a problem shared, is a problem halved!
• Don’t compare yourself to other people – people often perceive that others are not feeling the same emotions as them, likelihood is, they are. Social media can often present a superficial picture of what is really going on in people’s lives and it’s important to remember everyone’s university experience is different!

• Keep in contact with family and friends at home, but be careful this doesn’t become too often as this can make the feelings of homesickness worse. Keeping in contact regularly via texts and brief phone calls can be really beneficial!
• Set a date for when you will visit home – but ensure you stick to it. It can be so easy for people to return home as soon as the feelings of homesickness kick in, but this can make it much harder to return to University. Visiting home in the early days of University can sometimes impact our socializing and settling in process so avoid it where you can!
• Bring home comforts from home – it’s nice to have some bits that remind you of home, it could be your favourite blanket, a photo frame or anything that helps you feel more at home!
• Avoid social media – constantly checking the pages of people back at home is only going to cause you more upset. Enjoy the moment rather than getting drawn into social media!

• Try to avoid isolating yourself as this will exacerbate how you’re feeling – it’s good to be around other people, even if these people aren’t who you’re used to being around
• Get outdoors wherever possible – keeping yourself in your room is unlikely to help and is likely to intensify these feelings. There are usually some nice parks and green spaces to enjoy in the nicer weather!
• Exercise – it can be so easy to get cosy indoors with lots of snacks when things aren’t going too great, but really this won’t help. Exercising and getting outdoors helps hugely with our wellbeing and will support with maintaining a positive attitude. Even a small walk can make the world of difference!
• Keep busy – keeping your days busy and having routine will hugely help with feelings of homesickness. Try and organize some day trips, or study in the library rather than at home – even a part-time job can help in more ways than one!
• Explore your new surroundings – being unfamiliar in your surroundings is one of the main triggers for homesickness. Set aside some time to explore your new area – this could include going for walks, locating your favourite shops and restaurants, and finding activities in the area.
• Join a society – these can be great places to meet likeminded individuals with similar interests. Societies generally put on regular events and socials too which will help keep you busy and socializing.
• Join a local group or activity – if none of the societies at University sound like something for you, there are usually loads of community groups and activities for you to get involved with such as local walking groups.
• Set yourself a goal to arrange a coffee date or other arrangements with new friends at Uni
• Not every day is a party day! People often think that every day at University will be full of partying, socializing and minimal responsibilities – whilst some days may feel like this, don’t lose sight of the reason you came to University
• Plan one nice thing for yourself each day – this could be something as small as a bit of pampering for yourself, or this could be a new, fun activity to keep you busy

• Maintain a positive attitude – I know this can be easier said than done in these times, but having a positive approach will support you in tackling your homesickness and will help you in social situations
• Remember - Don’t give up – the first few months are always the hardest and things will get better! Sometimes it can just take time for us to find our ‘happy place’!

Most importantly – ASK FOR HELP – as a Unipol tenant, you have access to the Tenancy Support. We support individuals during their time at University and homesickness is a common issue we come across. We are not here to judge or to force you into the University life – we’re here to work with you to discover what works for you and how we can make your time at University the best experience possible for you.