Tips for dealing with homesickness as an expat
How to cope when you're missing home
Feeling homesick when you're away from home for extended periods is completely natural. So far in my experience as an expat, homesickness has come in waves. It can hit you at any moment, but while it’s something you have to work through, here are a few suggestions that might help you cope.
Call a friend or family member
The obvious thing to do when you’re feeling homesick is call a friend or family member back home. It always makes me feel better to chat to a loved one when I’m missing home.
Go do a fun activity
Distraction is the perfect way to deal with homesickness. Do something that will take your mind away from missing home and can be a fun thing to look back on in the future.
Take some time of social media
Social media can make you feel bad at the best of times, so when you’re feeling homesick take a few days off socials, and call and text your family and friends instead.
Spend some time with people from your country
While a big part of living overseas is meeting new people from all different countries, sometimes, if you’re missing home, it can be nice to seek out people from your country to spend some time with. That familiarity can be comforting when you’re feeling far from home.
Get into a new routine
Getting into a good routine is so important when you move to a new country. It’ll help you feel settled more quickly and keeping busy will help on days when you’re feeling homesick.
Eat a comfort meal
Having a meal from your home country, or just your favourite comfort meal can be a small way to make yourself feel a bit better. I find that food has a way of providing solace when you need it.
Homesickness is a common experience when living in a new place. Try these tips, and also take some time to remind yourself why you’re away from home. Homesickness also means you have people and places to miss which is comforting in it’s own way.
Weekly update
Another fortnightly update this week! After returning from the Azores we headed to Lagos, in south Portugal for about 5 days where we went for some lovely coastal walks, explored the town and did some work. We then moved into our new rental in Portimão, which is also in south Portugal, not far from Lagos, and have been here just over a week now. We’re here for just under a month at the moment (but might come back after xmas if we decide we like it enough!).
The place we’re in is a 5 minute walk to the beach, which for two people who grew up in the desert, is very exciting. The beaches down here are just stunning and we are going for morning and sunset beach walks almost everyday. Nelson has also bought a surfboard and has been surfing when he can!
Asides from working and going to the beach, we’ve also been to a local fair (Portugal loves a good fair!), attended pub trivia, gone to a local football game and gone along to a digital nomads meetup. I have also taught myself to crochet this week and I’m obsessed with it. Check out the beanie I made (ignore the loose threads hanging out the side, I’ve chopped those off now)!!!
Also I finally got around to editing my Italy food vlog from our trip there a month ago, so enjoy!