Homesick at College? What Actually Helps

It's common and it usually eases. Here is what helps in the meantime.

Sumit / Updated 6 November 2026 / 2 min read

The short answer

Keep a routine, go to one thing a week with other people, and call home at a set time. If the sadness stays or gets heavier, talk to a counsellor.

Plenty of students feel this in the first few weeks, including the ones who look fine at dinner. It tends to come at odd moments, like Sunday evenings or the first time you fall sick alone.

Things that help

Eat with someone at least once a day, even if you barely know them
Keep a simple routine for waking, classes and sleep
Go to one club, sport or event each week
Set a time for calls home, so you’re not waiting by the phone all day
Make your bed area feel like yours with photos or a familiar blanket
Get outside and walk around your new area

Calling home

Daily calls can be lovely, and for some students they make the missing worse. Try a set time in the evening. Tell your family how you feel. You don’t have to pretend everything is great.

Give it time

Friendships take longer to form than people admit. Those groups you see laughing in week two are often still strangers. Say yes to small things, like a walk to the canteen. That’s how it starts.

When to reach out

If you can't sleep or eat, you're missing classes, or you feel hopeless, talk to your college counsellor, a doctor or someone you trust. If you ever feel unsafe or have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out to a local helpline or emergency service right away.