March is that month of the year when everything seems to go by at the slowest pace possible. Mid-terms are looming overhead, spring break is close but not close enough, the cold makes you never want to leave your bed. This is also the time of the year which gets you homesick. You're about a month out from Christmas break, and now you're reminiscing on all the fun you had watching TV and laying on the couch with your mom and your sister every night.
Being homesick is defined in Webster's Dictionary as "longing for home and family while absent from them." Homesickness is a natural tendency for everyone, even if it isn't in the true sense of the definition. You can be homesick for a time in your life, or an individual, or an event. For me, being homesick hits hardest when I am longing to feel comfortable. Being home and/or with my family, I have come to notice a strong sense of comfort and ease. Being away at school, things happen -- friends get mad at you, school gets too challenging, money stresses you out -- and that feeling of comfort is nowhere to be found. These are the times that I become homesick. I long for a place where I can deal with all of the stress while knowing that everything is going to be okay.
With all that said, homesickness is only curable when you are home. As college students, we don't always have the luxury of going home whenever we feel homesick. That's when you pull out your dad's old sweatshirt from college and remind yourself that you're going to be fine. Here are a few more things you can do to ease those homesick blues:
1. Watch an old movie
Whenever I watch the movie "Grease," I immediately think of my mom. Watching that movie makes me feel like I am hanging out with her in some way. So undoubtedly, it is one of my favorites (thank God it's on Netflix). When you would rather hang out with your mom than do homework, but she is miles away, pop in that one movie that you always used to watch as a kid.
2. Wear your favorite comfy clothes
Everybody has those clothes in their closet that they feel most comfortable in. Whether it is your dad's crew neck from college, your high school sport's team hoodie, or your 'fat pants', there is a piece of clothing you have that always makes you feel at home as soon as you slip it on. Get back from class and put those clothes right on; maybe even take a nap if you're feeling it.
3. Take that nap
Your mind and body deserve a break, and what better way to do it than to take a nap. A good hour of shut-eye can go a long, long way. Curl up with your baby blanket, lay your head on your favorite pillow case and let your mind shut off for a while. You might even wake up with a whole new perspective and motivation to make it through the rest of the week.
4. Call your mom/dad/sister/brother/grandma/friend
Even though what you want most is to be with them, Apple invented this great thing called FaceTime. You're not actually together, but at the same time, you kind of are. Take that time out of studying and most importantly don't feel guilty about it. A little face-to-face with the people you love can remind you just how lucky you are to love them, even if it is from afar.
5. Eat your favorite food
Although this might not be the healthiest tip I can give you, it definitely is one of the most helpful. Eat those chocolate chip pancakes, make the Spongebob mac n' cheese. Just because you aren't at home, doesn't mean that those comfort foods don't taste as homey or as good.
6. Go home
Sometimes, I catch myself thinking "I can't go home this weekend because I will miss that big party" or this, or that. As college students, I think we forget that it is okay to go home sometimes. We all need a little break from reality, a distraction from school, a home-cooked meal. Don't cheat yourself out of some much-needed time with your family for that one night to go out with your friends. Give yourself a rain check from school-life, and go back to the real and most comfortable you, even if its only for a couple of days.
Being homesick might be one of the worst phases of growing up. Use these helpful hints whenever those blues are in full swing to ease the pain. And always remind yourself how lucky you are to miss something so wonderful.
