By Lauren Juliff
Student Travel Expert, about.com
It's inevitable that at some point in your travels you'll find yourself feeling homesick. It happens to everybody who travels at some point, and can be extremely debilitating. There's not much you can do to prevent it happening and you'll find it sneaks up on you when you least expect it -- maybe a restaurant reminds you of your mom's home cooking, or a photo of your friends at a party without you pops up your Facebook feed -- whatever it is, it can leave you feeling depressed for days.
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Here are my biggest tips and advice for conquering homesickness and getting back into your happy place on the road.
Take Some Time Out For Yourself
If
I find myself longing to fly back home, I allow myself to wallow in
self-pity for several days. A lot of homesickness, for me, has to do
with culture shock
and not feeling comfortable in an unfamiliar situation. I aim to deal
with this by treating and rewarding myself as much as I can.
I'll book a private room in a hostel, with air conditioning, fast Wi-Fi and a hot shower.
I'll buy huge chocolate bars, download some of
my favorite TV shows and spend the day in bed feeling sorry for myself.
I'll go for a massage or a spa day, get a haircut or read a book in a
park. I'll Skype with friends and family back home and let them know I
miss them.
It's all about bringing a sense of normality into your
life when traveling. Just a few simple indulgences can lift your mood
and get you back on your feet again.
Buy Gifts for Loved Ones
If
you're missing friends and family, why not go on shopping spree and buy
some gifts to send them? If you don't have much room in your backpack
then you can send a couple a postcards to let them know you're thinking
of them.
You'll feel reconnected to the people you love, and know
for sure they're still thinking about you. A selfless good deed will
help lift your mood, as well!
[post_ads]Build a Routine
We
usually associate home with routine -- after all, at home we often do
the same thing every day. We eat at the same time, go to college every
day and head back home to party or sleep. When you're traveling, you
don't have any kind of routine to stick to and your body can can be left
feeling confused when it doesn't know what's going to happen each day.
Try forming a routine
for a few days to get some normality back into your life -- go to the
same cafes and restaurants for your meals, eat at the same times, hang
out with the same set of people at the hostel.
Talk to New People
Aim
to take your mind off your homesickness by making friends with new
people, whether in your hostel, in a cafe or at a park. This will keep
you distracted and take your mind off your sadness. If you choose to
speak to people in your hostel, it's likely that your new friends will
have struggled with homesickness at some point in their travels, too.
They'll be sympathetic, give you a shoulder to cry on and be able offer
some helpful advice.
Be Patient
You
won't get over your homesickness in a few hours just by telling yourself
to pull yourself together -- it may take a week for you to start feel
better. Be patient, take the time to understand why you feel this way
and know that eventually you'll feel better and ready to start exploring
again.
Think Positive
Remind yourself of
how far you've come on your travels and how you managed to follow your
dreams in order to make this happen. Maybe you've saved for years for
your dream trip, or finally scored that study abroad you've been eyeing
up for a while. Remind yourself how much you've achieved and how
successful you've been so far. Think positive and your mood will soon follow.
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Step Outside
If
staying inside and feeling sorry for yourself isn't helping your mood,
then try keeping yourself busy. Go and see the main tourist sites of
wherever you are, have a coffee or go to a bar. Don't sit on your laptop
worrying about what people are doing back home. Go outside and sunbathe
on the beach, do whatever you feel like doing. Keep busy and you'll
soon find that homesickness will be the last thing you're thinking
about.
