"Theres no place like home" The curse of Homesickness and ways to deal with it

I feel like its something that I should write about as its something I have been dealing with on and off for the last 12 months and something i'm sure everyone has experienced at least once in their lives on some scale. Homesickness! Yep that little nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you miss EVERYTHING! I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes I have become so overwhelmed with homesickness that I have cried for hours. I have struggled to breathe, I have felt lost, I felt anxious and scared and worried and sad on so many occasions since moving away from Australia to live a life in Canada.

Do not get me wrong it has been an incredible experience to live here. Its something I am glad I have gotten to do in my life, and something I am proud of myself for doing. But sometimes all I want to do is be back in my city, surrounded by my friends, living close to my family, driving on the left side of the road. My life here feels worlds apart from the one I left back in Australia. Its a crazy thing though because just when I think I have become so overwhelmed with the emotions to return home and decide i'm actually going home, a switch goes off and I'm fine again. I begin to enjoy my life here and start thinking of how much I want to do and see and explore. I begin to get excited again and enjoy everything around me.

Over the last 12 months I have found a range of ways to deal with homesickness, there's are my top strategies and I hope they might help you if you are currently experiencing homesickness too.

1. Write a list of all the new places you plan to explore

When you move overseas you are going to be experiencing a lot of new and exciting adventures. A great way to help with the homesickness I have found is when I make plans of new places I plan to visit.

The excitement alone of researching a new place, organising dates I plan to visit and who I plan to visit with has been enough sometimes to combat the homesickness I might be feeling at that time.

It makes me excited and gives me something to look forward too. I highly recommend making a bucket list and keep adding to it. Chances are you aren't going to be living in your new country forever (if its a work visa or study abroad situation) so make the most of the time you have while you are there.

2. Switch off from social media for awhile

When your living away from home, it can be easy to become consumed with checking in with what your family and friends are doing back home.

This in turn leads to you seeing them having a fun time without you, or seeing their children grow up before your eyes and your not there to see it. You can feel more disconnected at times when your constantly watching them on social media and or talking to them via a message or even Skype (I have sometimes found makes that Skype me feel more disconnected at times, when talking to loved ones through a computer screen).

Switching off from social media is a great way to help you live in the moment and forget about home for a few days or weeks (depending on how long you need).

I have done this a couple of times and it has definitely made a difference to my feelings during the time i'm absent from social media. I would just recommend letting your family and friends know your taking a break from social media to prevent any worry if they don't hear from you for a few days.

3. Talk to someone about it

If your feeling homesick, don't feel ashamed to admit it!

You have made a huge and brave decision to live abroad, but that doesn't mean life is always rosy. Letting someone your close with know that your homesick and talking through it, can make the world of difference. Whether it be your partner, friends or family (back home or in your new country).

Just say "I'm feeling really homesick today, I need to talk about it" and see what they say. Chances are they will be more than happy to listen. And then once its off your chest you can look forward to a new day in your new country.

4. Find a new hobby/ Take a class/ join a team/ Volunteer your time For me its photography, for my husband its guitar. We have both started blogs and are setting goals for each of these.

Finding a new hobby or rekindling love for an old hobby is a great way to keep your mind occupied. You might enjoy playing sport, so find a team to join and meet new people. Or get involved in the community by volunteering your time to a cause or organisation.

I recommend finding a new hobby which can also be enjoyed with others which in turn, will encourage you to get out and meet new people with similar interests and expand your network in your new city.

5. Don't let a job make you miserable

I feel like this isn't really an obvious one to many people. Including myself for a while.

If you are living and working abroad, you will most likely be spending a good portion of your time at work. If you are unhappy at work, you will be unhappy in general. Don't let the fear of not having a job in a foreign country trap you to stay in a job you hate. Just because you are visiting a country, doesn't mean you have to lower your standards to make a bit of money. Honestly!

I have been so guilty of this the last few months, and I believe half of the reasons for my homesickness has been due to work. So if your feeling incredibly homesick, take a look at your life right now and whats making you so homesick? If its your job, think to yourself "would I stay in a job like this back home?" if the answer is NO then start looking elsewhere!

6. Go out with new people

If your living overseas and you get invited out by someone - go! Or better yet, invite new people you meet out for a coffee or a drink. You will come across people who just aren't interested. (Kind of like dating for friends) some people are too comfortable in their bubbles and might not be too willing to open up to making new friends and thats fine.

Some you might not click with and thats fine too. BUT how will you know if you don't try? I have found living abroad with my husband has sometimes stopped me from accepting invitations as the two of us have already made plans etc but there's always a way to try and include everyone, and a little alone time with new people doesn't hurt either.

If your a solo expat then just accept every invite with a smile and see what happens!

7. Keep in touch with your culture and the people back home

Sure, when you move abroad you want to immerse yourself in your new culture and learn everything there is about it, but don't forget about where you came from.

I can't tell how much I miss the Aussie slang, sarcastic humour and little quirks of my country. I love Canada but sometimes I just need to hear a good old blunt statement out of the mouth of an Australian to make me laugh and feel better about whatever situation i'm experiencing.

Calling up a friend back home, or listening to a comedian, watching a TV show you loved, meeting groups of people who are from the same country as you are all helpful ways to keep you up to date and appreciating where you came from.

I love it when i'm at work and a fellow Australian comes in, its like greeting an old friend "Oh your Aussie! Where abouts are you from? What are you doing here? How do you find it?". Its great to make friends in your new country but meeting people from back home is equally as nice. The more the merrier!

If you have any other suggestions on how you have dealt with homesickness i'd love to hear about them

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