Many of us love to travel and explore new places but sometimes we can feel a little homesick while away from home. Homesickness is a feeling of nostalgia or longing for one’s home, especially during or after travel. It can be a very strong emotion and can cause physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness. As much as possible, you want to avoid this so that you can spend some time for yourself. Here are some tips to help you avoid feeling homesick while traveling.
1. Make sure to stay connected with your friends and family back home.
Staying connected with loved ones can help you feel more connected to your life back home and can help reduce any feelings of homesickness. Make sure to stay in touch through social media, emails, or phone calls. Talk to them often, send them photos and videos of your travels, and make sure to keep them updated on your adventures.
2. Bring photos or souvenirs from your travels to remind you of good memories.
When you start to feel homesick, take a look at some of the photos and souvenirs you’ve collected from your travels. Reminding yourself of all the good memories you’ve made will help to brighten your mood and make you feel more connected to your travels.
3. Bring a piece of home with you.
If you tend to feel really homesick while traveling, try to bring a piece of home with you on your trips. This could be something as simple as a pillowcase from your bed or a stuffed animal from your childhood. Having something familiar with you can help reduce the feelings of homesickness.
4. Find some relaxing activities to calm your nerves.
When you’re feeling homesick, it can be helpful to do some calming activities to help relax your mind and body. You can try yoga, meditation, reading, or even taking a nap. You can sip a cup of brewed coffee or tea, listen to calming music, or take a walk outside. These activities should help you to feel more relaxed and at ease.
5. Make new friends while traveling.
Making new friends while traveling can help to reduce the feelings of homesickness. When you have new friends to talk to and spend time with, you’ll feel less alone and more connected to your surroundings. You can meet new friends through hostels, tours, or social events. All you need is to socialize and be friendly. You can surely meet nice people who will keep you company while you travel.
6. Explore your new surroundings.
When you’re feeling homesick, one way to overcome it is to explore your new surroundings. Although it feels counterintuitive, exploring new places can help to make you feel more connected and less homesick. Seeing all the new sights and sounds can be really exciting and can help to take your mind off of any feelings of homesickness.
7. Keep a journal of your travels.
A great way to keep your mind busy and distracted from any feelings of homesickness is to keep a journal of your travels. You want to document all your adventures, the people you’ve met, the places you’ve visited, and all the new experiences you’ve had. This will help to keep you invested in something other than longing for home. You can also use your journal to show your family your new experiences and how much you’ve grown since your trip.
8. Participate in local activities and events.
When you’re traveling, it’s a great idea to get involved in the local activities and events. Different places have different events and activities so you’ll have plenty to choose from. This is a great way to meet new people, learn about the local culture, and have some fun. You can look for these events online or ask locals to recommend some events that might be happening during your stay.
9. Make a list of things you want to do while traveling.
Another way to fend off homesickness is to create something of a bucket list. This will give you something to look forward to and work towards. When you have a list of things you want to do, it’ll be easier to stay positive and excited about your travels. You can make a list of all the places you want to visit, the things you want to do, or the people you want to meet. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that’ll keep you excited and motivated.
Homesickness is a common feeling that many people experience when they’re traveling but there are ways to avoid or reduce this negative feeling. The tips listed above will help you to feel more connected to your travels and less homesick. Try out a few of them and see which ones work best for you.
