Whether you are traveling to a new place for a week, few months, or even years; the feeling of being homesick is inevitable. You might miss the comfort of your bed, the familiar faces at work, and the aroma of your mom’s cooking. We tend to feel homesick while we are traveling because we leave a place that we know. We like to feel that we belong, but when we travel, we encounter new people and situations which can be uncomfortable. Not everyone feels homesick when traveling, but for those who do, here are a few tips that will help minimize that feeling.

1) FaceTime or call family and friends.

With the development of new technology, we can communicate with people from across the world. To eliminate the feeling of homesickness, you can FaceTime or call your loved ones. The iPhone allows us to FaceTime people whenever we want. FaceTime is similar to Skype, which is a feature that allows you to video chat other people. If your phone doesn’t have that option, you can give them a call.

2) Bring a few special items from home with you.

This can include photos of your family, friends, and pets, your favorite hoodie, or any item that has sentimental value to you. But, be careful to not lose any of these important items on your trip. This will remind you of home and eventually will make you feel less homesick.

3) Stay busy.

Distract yourself from having these feelings by staying busy. I know that for me at least, whenever I have too much free time I tend to overthink, which can lead to negative thoughts. If you keep yourself productive and accomplish plenty of tasks, then you will less likely be homesick.

4) Talk to new people.

Isolating yourself will not help this situation. Go to new events and talk to other people in the area. You can meet other visitors who might be having the same experience as you or you can meet locals who will show you around the city. This will make you feel a little less out of place and bring new friends into your life!

5) Develop a routine.

Developing a routine will allow you to become comfortable with the location. For example, if you visit the same restaurant  for dinner on the weekends, you will start to recognize a few faces such as the employees and customers. Frequently visiting the same places and doing the same daily activities, will aid you into building a new community.

Those are all the tips I have for fighting homesickness when traveling. I hope you enjoyed reading today’s blog.

See you next time,

Eryka