10 ideas to help with homesickness for boarding school students

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Are you a boarding school student? Facing a new challenge and feeling homesick?

Many of us are facing a new life whether at school, university or having moved to a new area to live and work or study.  It is so important we look after ourselves and ensure that we know what to do and where to go when we need help.

In the next few paragraphs you will find practical advice for boarding school students dealing with some of the issues and places to turn to if you need help or want to talk to someone:

Homesickness:

Plenty of students find themselves missing home or family and friends when they are away.  There are no special tricks to dealing with this, but accepting it and chatting about how you feel will help and you may find that the person you choose to talk to is feeling the same way and is appreciative of someone else being there for them. 

10 tips on how to cope with homesickness

  1. Plan your day so that you have something to look forward to during the day
  2. Find a regular time to talk to family and/or friends at home so that you look forward to this but it becomes part of your day and there are other more local focuses too
  3. Talk to friends or to someone who is overseeing your care
  4. Make an appt to see a GP or a Counsellor if the wave of sadness is not going away – don’t try and handle things alone
  5. Try and get involved in the life around you so that you feel you “belong” and share thoughts with the friends you trust
  6. Most importantly, make sure you have enough sleep – it really does make a difference to your wellbeing
  7. Eat regularly and drink plenty
  8. Learn a new activity or enjoy playing a card or board game at a regular point in the evening (or perhaps a jigsaw)
  9. Keep a diary or write a daily blog
  10. Listen to relaxing music particularly whilst you are studying

Other suggestions for boarding school students:

boarding school student

Schools will have Matrons, Housemasters and Housemistresses, Tutors and a variety of nursing, counselling and teaching staff to whom pupils may turn and ask for help.  Universities will advise as to whom they have available and all students should be able to access support from Counsellors and medical staff alongside their Tutors.  For everyone there are online facilities for support from CHILDLINE, THE SAMARITANS AND the NSPCC but of course your GP or Practice Nurse will support you too.

However you are feeling and whether you are alone or with new friends, the world is a strange place and we need to “be there” for each other.  If you are feeling strong and you notice someone near you is not; ask if you can help, show a hand of friendship and include them.  There has never been a more important time to virtually “wrap your arms around one another” and “be there” ….. or know someone who can support.

If you have chosen Berkeley Guardians to care for you – ring your Guardian Angel or ask them to visit you.  We are here to help and support and have your happiness at the forefront of our thoughts.

NEVER FEEL YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH LONELINESS, HOMESICKNESS OR ANXIETY ALONE

– speak to someone and look after one another.

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