Aimee's 4 Step Guide to Coping With Homesickness at University

Hey there, my name is Aimee! I have just finished my foundation year and boy have I experienced homesickness. For starters, I want to remind you that this feeling is one hundred percent normal, especially if you have just moved out of your home for the first time; and honestly, if it makes you feel any better, I ran back home to London just after a week of moving up to Manchester.  

But these feelings didn’t last forever, and now I feel like Manchester is my home away from home. That’s why I am here to share with you four useful tips based on my own experiences (and some of my friends) on how to you can cope with feelings of homesickness at university.

4 tips to help you feel at home on campus 

1. Keeping in touch with home 

First and foremost, keep in contact with close family members and friends. I know what you’re thinking: “But Aimee, won’t that make me miss home more?”, well to that I say… yes and no. If you continue to focus on the things that you left behind, you will not make any progress getting out of feeling homesick. But also, you should see it as something to look forward to in the future. For example, my niece was born in October and, although I was in Manchester when it happened, I could not contain my excitement knowing that when I go back home, I will be welcoming a new member into the family. 

You should also remember why you came to university (to get your degree, further your knowledge and skills, meet new people etc). Make the most of all the opportunities that come your way, knowing that you will see your loved ones during he breaks. Listening to the encouragement from your family and friends will also give you the strength to keep going.

It is also important to stay active when you move to a new place, and this will distract you from feelings of homesickness and missing your family. I became involved in Badminton sessions hosted by MMU at the Sugden centre and I also went to the gym weekly. This gave me a peace of mind knowing that I am keeping my body fit and getting involved with different sporting activities kept my mind busy.

“But Aimee, what about attending any social events?”. Which leads me into my second point, which is “spend time with your new friends”.

2. Making new friends 

I find that after spending time alone in my room, making the effort to catch up with new friends brings me back to life. My friend Kamau says in his free time he enjoys going out with his friends, but the question I get asked the most is “How do I make friends at university?” While everybody has a different experience, the best way I made friends was by stepping out of my comfort zone (i.e. not keeping to myself and staying at home watching Disney+ in the comfort of my blanket).

Even though it’s relaxing to spend time in your own bubble, it won’t help you improve your social skills.  I was able to come out of my comfort zone by being the first person to say “Hi” to others and saying yes to social events with people I had met in my lectures and seminars. 

Once you decide to take the leap and step out of your comfort zone, take a breath. Now, whilst it’s easier said than done, try and start out with some simple conversation: “Hi my name is… What’s yours? What are you studying? What’s your socials? Are you doing anything after class?”. Even though this might sound scary (don’t worry, I thought it was too), sometimes all you need to do is take that first step. By repeating this process, you will become confident enough to socialise with others. 

But as my mum always says, “everything in moderation”, meaning that even though it’s great to go out, have fun and enjoying activities with your mates, it’s also okay to say, “actually I want to go home and study or go home and relax today”.  

3. Keeping busy and setting a routine 

Now that you understand the importance of surrounding yourself with others that care about you and you know how to make friends, what else can you do? My close friend Juliana suggests that by keeping herself busy (i.e. with coursework and even getting a part-time job) she was able to shift her focus from missing home.  

I want to stress the importance of keeping yourself occupied (and no, I am not saying you need to make your brain burn out) just go outside and touch grass. Yes, I am aware that the United Kingdom rarely gets any sunlight, but there’s so much to involve yourself with on campus and around the city.

So what hobbies are you into? Roller Skating, Pilates, trying new restaurants, painting, reading etc…  Make sure to check out the ‘What’s on?’ page on the Student Union website. They host many fun social events which are open to all. So, don’t put off that new activity you wanted to try out! 

My favourite hobbies are video making and video editing, hence why I have a YouTube channel (@LmaoAims). I love that I can dedicate time doing something I enjoy whilst being able to provide advice and help others. Although some of you may be reading this and don’t even have a hobby (or so you think). What is it that you like to do? What’s a skill that you specialise in? Whatever it may be, spend some time to perfect your hobby; and even if you really can’t think of anything, I highly recommend joining a society, attending a welcome event or even going to an event hosted by the student union.  

For example, I really wanted to give roller-skating ago. I was sick of letting the thought of not being able to let go of the walls consume me and so you know what I did, I gathered two of my friends and forced them to come roller-skating with me. Did I still hold on to the walls? Yes. Did it take me 30 mins to get off the seat with my roller skates on? Also yes, but you know what, I was still able to conquer my fear and go around the circle, which my friends were able to encourage me to do. But the most important thing is that I had so much fun. So please, spend time on your hobbies as well as discover yourself more by finding out what it is that you enjoy doing AND GO AND DO IT! 

Another great way to keep busy is joining a society. A society is a great way to connect with people that have similar interests to you and even people who come from the same country as you. This year I joined the Cheerleading Society and ACS (African and Carribean Society). Watching American TV growing up always made me want to become a cheerleader so now I’m glad to say that I gave it a shot and I am from Ghana so being part of ACS allowed me to connect with people of the same ethnic background as me. Overall, both societies enabled me to meet great new people, but most importantly build on my social skills. 

4. Reaching out for help 

With all that being said, I do want to remind everyone that if you are feeling isolated, alone, or going through a tough spot please reach out to any professional that specialises in mental health. I found that the wellbeing services  at Manchester Met were supportive in my times of need. Manchester Met offers a wide range of support such as: 24/7 support line, wellbeing workshops and courses, wellbeing podcasts etc…  I specifically used the counselling services which allowed me to have 5 sessions (you can choose whether you want to have your sessions online or in-person sessions too) and even free eight-week access to the gym along with a personal trainer. I also encourage you to reach out to your GP if you feel that your mental health is not improving. Remember, your feelings are valid too!!!

At first, I found it difficult to adjust to university life, but building on my social skills, immersing myself in Manchester’s city life and having access to Manchester Met’s wellbeing and support services, really enabled me to settle and become comfortable living in this new city. Overall, you may think your time at university will be difficult to adjust to, but you are not alone. Let me be the one to tell you that everything will be okay. If you are ever unsure about anything please reach out to your lecturers, flatmates, classmates etc. Once you get over the big leap of coming out of your comfort zone you will find a way to navigate everything else. I hope that by taking this advice your stay at university will become as fun and comfortable as it can be.