6 Tips for Handling Homesickness While Living in a Student Residence

young woman staring out a window

Are you experiencing homesickness while attending university? You’re not alone. For students adjusting to life away from home, homesickness is a typical difficulty that can make the new journey seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are useful strategies for controlling these emotions and creating a more comfortable environment in your housing. We’ll look at six strategies in this blog to help you overcome your homesickness and smoothly adjust to your new surroundings. 

Make Your Room a Relaxing Space

Creating a cozy and familiar environment in your student housing can be one of the easiest methods to combat homesickness. Start adding things that make you feel at home, such as modest mementos, your favorite blanket, or pictures of family and friends. Feeling relaxed in your surroundings can be greatly improved by adding a personal touch.

Including colors or smells that cheer you back home can also evoke a feeling of familiarity. Warm lighting can be produced with a mix of candles, essential oils, or even a soft blanket in your preferred color. The idea is to create a haven of calm in your room where you may rest and refuel while adjusting to the difficulties of college life.

Stay Connected With Your Loved Ones

Keeping in touch with loved ones back home is important for coping with homesickness. Establish regular times for text updates, video conversations, or even handwritten letters. Reminding yourself that home is just a phone call away, and staying in touch with loved ones helps bridge the distance and offers emotional support.

Establish a Routine 

Routines provide structure and can be very useful while adjusting to a new situation. Maintaining a schedule can make you feel normal and in control, which is crucial when feeling isolated and cut off from the outside world. Begin with little routines such as arranging regular study sessions, meal planning, or a constant wake-up time.

Establishing a schedule not only keeps you occupied but also fosters the development of new customs and habits in your student housing, giving it a more personalized feel. As you settle into your routine, your residence will start to feel less like a temporary place and more like a home where you can grow academically and personally.

Participate in Activities at the Residence

Participating in local activities is one of the best methods for fighting homesickness. Social gatherings, organizations, and other activities aimed at promoting community building are provided by a lot of student housing apartments. Engaging in these events can facilitate your socialization, friendship-building, and support system in your new setting environment. Participating in resident activities, such as game nights, study groups, cultural events, or community service projects, can greatly improve your time as a student and create a more welcoming atmosphere in your new surroundings.

Discover your New City

Getting familiar with your new city might also aid in reducing homesickness. Take some time to explore the parks, cafes, and interesting local sites. Acquainting yourself with your new surroundings might encourage a feeling of inclusion and strengthen your bond with your new residence.

Discovering new favorite locations through exploration can also help you incorporate them into your daily routine. Your new city will begin to seem more like home the more you explore. Additionally, venturing outside your apartment and exploring the city helps you forget about homesickness while enhancing the adventure and discovery of your college experience.

Ask for Help When you Need It

It’s important to identify the moments when homesickness overwhelms you and to get help when you need it. Speaking with someone who has been through similar things to you can be relieving and offer coping mechanisms. Remember that experiencing homesickness is normal, and asking for help is a proactive move toward creating a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere in your apartment.

Conclusion

Handling homesickness is a journey, and by taking these steps, you can make your student residence feel more like home. Creating a comfort zone, staying connected, building routines, getting involved, exploring your new city, and seeking support are all valuable strategies that can help ease the transition and enhance your student experience.

1Eleven provides the ideal combination of comfort, accessibility, and convenience, ensuring a welcoming environment where you can truly feel at home. Embrace your new chapter with confidence at 1Eleven—your perfect choice for student residence in Ottawa.

Ready to apply?

Ready to apply?

Tell us your apartment preferences and we will do everything we can to place you in the unit that’s best for you.

Apply Now