If you are an expat and have travelled abroad, you’ve probably experienced homesickness at some point. If you’re about to immigrate, here are the reasons behind the feeling you might be experiencing soon and how to overcome it.

What is homesickness?

Homesickness does not necessarily mean you are missing home, it is a form of sadness or depression that arises when you are placed in a new environment and are suppressing change. It’s only natural that you miss your loved ones and this coupled with all the new things you are dealing with results in the feeling of homesickness. But before you give in to it, here are some ways to deal with it:

How expats can overcome homesickness

Get out there and explore

The more you familiarise yourself with your new environment, the less intimidating it will be. Get involved in the activities taking place in your local area, explore the local cuisine and if the language is foreign, invest in some language classes. The sooner you can start making your new country feel like home, the sooner your homesickness will disappear.

Limit social media

If you wake up every day and spend the first hour catching up on what your friends and family are doing back home, you’re bound to feel homesick. Stop it now, put away Facebook and start taking your own pictures. Once you have some exciting things to share with your loved ones back home, upload it onto social media and share! Their envious comments are bound to make you feel better.

Stay in touch with your passions

Moving countries doesn’t mean you have to forget who you are. If you love cycling or running and your new county’s weather doesn’t permit it, join a gym or invest in some thermal sports gear. If you love reading, but don’t have the money to buy your own books, join the local library. The more you do the things you love, the better you’ll start to feel.

Make plans to meet up

Familiar faces are a great way to keep homesickness at bay. If you have some friends from back home living in your new country – or just know a few people who grew up in your country, why not plan a get-together? If that sounds too intimidating, contact your local consulate for any ‘meet up’ groups your home country is holding in your area. It often helps to meet up and exchange notes with people who are going through the same experiences you are.

Another good idea with regard to meeting up is arranging a date to reconnect with family members in the future. Try not to do this in the first few months when you are finding your feet – but a date six or eight months down the line is something to plan for and look forward to.

If you’re planning on immigrating and need financial advice, contact us today and we’ll help you on the path to financial freedom in your new home.
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