5 tips to overcome homesickness

After spending her first Christmas away from home while studying an online master's in Global Journalism, Pamilla shares the top tips that helped her tackle homesickness.

I’m currently studying for an online masters while travelling through Central and South America. While this experience has been incredible, it’s also the longest I’ve ever been away from home, and I’ve struggled with homesickness, especially over the festive period.  

I’m not alone in feeling this way. Homesickness is something many students will experience while navigating life in a new place. By reflecting on my own experience and drawing advice from SOAS students on campus in London, I’ve put together five tips that genuinely helped me navigate this homesick feeling while studying away from home.  

Tip 1: Create home comforts  

Recreating small pieces of home can be grounding when you’re feeling homesick. It reminds you that familiarity and comfort can exist, even if you’re away from your usual environment.

When I miss home, I make chicken Handi or Chicken Biryani - stuff we used to make at home. I call my mum, and we just cook together." 

This is definitely a tip that’s worked for me. I’m originally from Leeds, and so, over Christmas, I picked up eggs, flour and milk to recreate my mum’s famous Yorkshire puddings. Yes, they might not have had exactly the same rise, but it was a proper taste of home.

Other students at SOAS have found comfort in more visual reminders, like watching films set in familiar places: 

"Watching films set in my hometown of New Orleans."  

Tip 2: Embrace the opportunity to do things differently 

Sometimes it can also help to throw yourself into completely new situations. Exploring the novelties of where you are can help pivot your thoughts to what new experiences you’re gaining while being away. In London, that could mean trying a pub quiz for the first time, going to a pie and mash shop or heading to the theatre.

I was based in Mexico City over the festive period. To take my mind away from the thought of mince pies back home, I decided to lean into some different traditions. Piñatas filled the streets and markets during this time, so I grabbed a bright green Grinch-shaped object to hang at my flat. It was a hilarious distraction and hey, maybe I can bring this festive piñata tradition back to the UK!  

Tip 3: Call friends or family and focus on what’s new 

Staying in touch with people back home is a great way to feel connected to loved ones. Scheduling calls, sending voice notes or sharing pictures over messages are great ways to do this. It’s natural for conversations to drift towards how much you’re all missing each other. 

If this is making your homesickness feel heavier, you can also steer the chat in ways that focus on what’s new: places you’ve discovered, wins for the day, people you’ve met. This can help you feel lighter and helps your loved ones adjust and process the new normal alongside you.

Focus on what’s new: places you’ve discovered, wins for the day, people you’ve met. This helps your loved ones adjust and process the new normal alongside you.

If long phone calls aren’t your bag, why not try a virtual get-together? A virtual quiz, Netflix party or playing video games can help bring the fun to these chats. This worked well for one SOAS student who said: 

"I call my younger brother and we play video games together" 

Tip 4: Get writing  

A tip from every psychologist’s toolbox, if you’re feeling an overwhelming emotion, is to journal. Homesickness is no exception. Writing can help you understand your feelings, process and then also reframe them into a ‘normal’ experience. 

You can use journalling to recognise and process your feelings by using prompts like: “‘What am I missing most right now?”, “What am I discovering about myself since being away”. Beyond focusing on the current feelings of homesickness, you can also use journalling as a platform to look forward – noting things you’re excited for or experiences you want to try while being away.

As an MA Global Journalism student, I love writing and sharing stories with family and friends back home. So, if you’re feeling a bit bolder, why not start a blog? I choose the pockets of experiences I want to share and then find photos and write a commentary. This process helps me frame my time away in a positive light. It helps me realise all the nice things I’ve done, which subconsciously reminds me why I chose to be away from home in the first place.  

Tip 5: Build community  

Building a sense of community can make a massive difference when you’re feeling homesick, as it brings a shared sense of belonging. A great way to do this is through volunteering. Dedicating time to help society via soup kitchens, care homes, or youth clubs can help you feel connected, bring purpose to your life and build new skills. 

If volunteering sounds like something you’d be interested in, you can find out more information on volunteering opportunities on the Volunteering section on MySOAS Student. 

Food is another (delicious) distraction and a great option to build community. Hosting a dinner with a couple of friends can help to bring that ‘family’ feeling. This is something that has helped me while studying abroad – some hostels I’ve stayed in do a group evening dinner. Everyone sits around chatting and sharing stories about their day. It brings a great sense of togetherness.

Sharing a glass in this way helps bridge different cultures, bringing a part of your home to theirs and vice versa. Patching the homesickness one conversation at a time. 

Finally, embrace the new people around you. Try to see it as an opportunity to learn from others. Staying curious can help you settle into a new place. I lived with two flatmates from Chile when I was in Mexico City. We spent our evenings drinking Pisco (a grape-based spirit from Chile), sharing stories and learning each other’s slang words. Sharing a glass in this way helps bridge different cultures, bringing a part of your home to theirs and vice versa. Patching the homesickness one conversation at a time. 

Final word 

Homesickness can strike at any moment, so it’s important to be kind to yourself when it does. These five tips aren’t about squashing this feeling altogether but giving you practical ways to cope when it crops up. With time, homesickness often softens and you might even come to miss London’s quirks (or wherever you are right now) when you next head home.

Remember that support is available at SOAS to help you cope with your feelings. Check out the student mental health and wellbeing service for more information. 

Eager for more tips from our SOAS student community? Check out our homesickness Instagram reel.