Regardless of if you’re a half an hour or 15 hours from home, everyone gets homesick. It’s inevitable, especially when you have so much to miss. I miss watching Jeopardy with my mom, competing to see who can answer the most questions right. I long for lunch dates with my dad, and I even miss bickering with my sisters. Although it’s hard to be away from the people and places that you love, there are always ways to get your mind off of the homesickness.

1. Read a book

It sounds silly, but focusing your thoughts and energy on something other than feeling homesick will distract you if you’re feeling down. Even after I finish reading a book, I'm still thinking about the story I just read. A book will consume at least some of your thoughts, and leave you feeling a little less homesick.

2. Go on a trip.

Whether it’s to the beach, a park, or the mall, taking a trip somewhere will be a fun experience, and allow you to forget about your feelings of homesickness. The key is to have as much fun as possible, leaving you thinking about the amazing experience you had and nothing else.

3. Paint.

Even if you’re not an artist, painting will allow you to express yourself and your creativity. You will exert all of your energy on the art, and spend less time feeling upset.

4. Study or do homework.

One of the most effective ways for me to beat my homesickness is to work on my studies. Although this might be a stressful way to distract yourself, it works really well. After all, there’s always some kind of work you can be doing.

5. Watch a movie.

Even just watching a TV show or a movie will help you get over your feelings of missing home. More effectively, watching a movie you’ve never seen before will force you to pay attention. It’s an extremely easy way to clear your head.

6. Clean.

Although it kinda sucks, cleaning will definitely be an easy way to get your mind off of things. You can do some laundry, vacuum your room, etc. All these tasks can take up time and effort, and leave you thinking solely about the task in front of you.

7. Be around other people.

Most of your sad thoughts will spur from being alone and overthinking. When you're with others, it’s easy to push that aside and focus on things that will make you happy. Surround yourself with people who want to have fun.