How To Handle Being Homesick Your First Week At College

5 Ways To Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home

Going to Uni/ College for the first time is super exciting, but it can also be quite scary, especially if you’ve never left home before. But don’t panic, we’ve got some helpful tips that will get you through that first week!

1. Remember that you’re not on your own

Everyone gets nervous for College/ Uni. It’s a universal rule. There’ll be people who seem confident, people who seem really shy, and people who are somewhere in between, but no matter how they appear, everyone will be missing home in the first few weeks. It’s so important to remember that you’re all in the same boat- it’ll help combat some of the isolation you’ll be feeling being away from home.

2. Step out of your comfort zone

With that in mind, it will actually make you feel so much better to be around other people who are going through the same way. The first few weeks of uni are one of those times when you’ll least feel like socialising, but we promise, you feel so much better when you do. Get out of your room, put a brave face on it, and pretend to be confident even if you’re not- once you’ve proven to yourself you can do it, socialising will get easier and easier, and you’ll feel so much less lonely once you feel comfortable with other people.

3. Home is where the heart is

There are so many ways you can make yourself feel at home, even if you’re not at home. Decorate your room with your fave blankets, photos, fairy lights; make sure you’ve got your cupboards stuffed with your favourite snacks, teas and coffees, and give yourself some me time to watch your favourite films, read your favourite books, listen to your preferred music.

4. Throw yourself into it

The classic way to keep your mind off something is to stay busy- go to campus fairs, say yes to as many events as you can, and have fun on nights out. Most importantly, have a scheduled time each day, or every other day to call home. Then, you have something to look forward to, but you know exactly when you’ll be in contact with home, so you’ll be less likely to obsess about feeling homesick throughout the day.

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5. Fill your days as well as your nights

Often, the time when people get really homesick is during the day. In your first few weeks at uni/ college you’ll have great nights out almost every evening, but a lot less planned for the daytime. When you’re tired and hungover, it’s so tempting to just laze around in bed all day, but that can be really quite depressing. Instead, find things to do in the city centre or in the main part of town, going to a new place can be really exciting, and there’ll be all sorts of fun touristy things to do- treat it like a holiday, because that’s how fun it should be!

6. Try out everything!

Trying out new clubs and societies is the best way to combat homesickness and make new friends, so sign up for as many things as you can. It’s not like you’re signing a legally binding contract when you try a club out, so go to a big range of taster sessions, and keep going with what you enjoy. You’ll probably surprise yourself when it comes to what you pick, and even if you don’t like the club, chances are you’ll meet a group of people you really like!