Travelling is emotionally challenging, and feelings like homesickness can restrict your journey a lot. That’s why I want to share my experiences and tips on how to deal with it.
Sometimes I catch myself daydreaming – wondering what life would be like if things had gone differently. The what ifs make me feel uncertain about my choices. Being in your 20s is strange – it’s terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Suddenly, doors open that you never even thought about before, and the world feels bigger than ever.
No matter where I travel, I feel both the happiest and the saddest at the same time. The excitement of new places, new faces, new experiences – but also the weight of leaving the people I love behind. And maybe that’s why I don’t let myself imagine a life by the ocean, between the waves and the kangaroos. Because no matter how far I go, these people still have a hold on me.
Before talking about how to deal with homesickness, I first want to define what it actually means. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, homesickness is “the feeling of being unhappy because of being away from home for a long period.”
As much as I love the people at home, I also love travelling, and I want to keep doing it whenever life gives me the chance. That’s why it’s important to learn how to handle this emotion. Homesickness is beautiful in a way – it shows how much you care about someone. But at the same time, it can hold you back from chasing your dreams. I had to learn to listen to myself and find a way to live with this feeling.
The following list includes ideas, tips, and tricks that helped me overcome homesickness and focus on my dreams. Maybe they’ll help you too.
7 ways to deal with homesickness.
1. Let yourself be sad
It’s fine to feel homesick. Don’t suppress your feelings – this won’t make the situation easier. Instead, learn to deal and live with this emotion. Find strategies that make it easier for you – like the following ideas, I listed underneath.
During my long term travels, I often struggled with missing my sister. Especially when arriving in new places and constantly switching locations, I sometimes felt overwhelmed and just wanted to be at home. A place where I know everything and everyone, where I don’t have to deal with all these new influences. I let myself be sad, even underlined my feelings with sad music. For a moment, I allowed myself to feel it. And after that moment, I was ready to use the tools I had learned, in order to change my mood and enjoy my journey again.
Because music is my passion, and I live for my sad songs, I want to share the ones that make me cry every time and that always accompany me on my journeys. Maybe I should make an official Spotify playlist for it, haha.
Here are my top 15:
- Homesick – Noah Kahan
- People Help the People – Birdy
- Wings – Birdy
- Male Fantasy – Billie Eilish
- The 30th – Billie Eilish
- TV – Billie Eilish
- Fine Line – Harry Styles
- What was I made for? – Billie Eilish
- Calamity – Zayn
- Getting Older – Billie Eilish
- Matilda – Harry Styles
- when the party’s over – Billie Eilish
- Be Alright – Dean Lewis
- Cherry Wine – Hozier
- From the Dining Table – Harry Styles
2. Carry good luck charms
I love having something meaningful with me – something I can actually touch or hold when I’m feeling sad, when I need energy and strength. These are my good luck charms:
My sisters and I bought the same ring together. It helped me during my travels, and even now, it’s by my side every single day.
My nephew painted me a little picture to put in the back of my phone case. He wanted to give me something for my long term travels, something I could always have with me. And he was very much right, because my phone is with me every single day. It’s been three years, and the picture is still in its place.
In general, I always wear my anklets and most of the time my bracelets. They remind me of my time in Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. They also stand for my best friend and the most amazing time we had together.
I also remember Emma having something with her during our travel. It was a little donkey she got gifted from her dad. We sadly lost Lucky in Noosa, but he will always be in our hearts.
3. Keep a Travel Diary
This one was and still is very important. That’s your sign to get yourself a random empty book and make a travel diary out of it. Besides all the benefits, like having a place to plan and organise your trip, and keeping track of what happened – so you’ll forever remember all the details of your journey – it’s perfect for reflecting on your emotions. Write down what bothers you and how you feel in the moment. It’s a bit like self therapy.
4. Find a daily routine
When you’re abroad for a long period of time, it’s super easy to move from one adventure to the next. Don’t forget that this is your life now, and you need to have some sort of everyday routine to keep a good balance. Find something you can do almost every day, like meditating, taking a walk, going for a run, writing in your diary… Something that stays the same each day and gives you time to relax and focus on yourself.
5. Make friends abroad
It’s a very important skill to be able to be happy by yourself, to find peace in your own company. But it’s just as important to be open and make friends abroad. Especially when dealing with homesickness, it can be a game changer to meet people – like in hostels – with whom you can spend quite some time. Having someone to talk to about your feelings and experiences is so important. Being with someone makes everything easier – exploring the area, doing fun activities together, and having someone to talk to. Save their socials though, maybe your paths will cross again:)
We already have a related blog post on how to meet people abroad, check it out if you want! How to meet people abroad
6. Allow yourself to rest
During this rush of adventures, it’s easy to lose yourself in all the activities. You’re in a new place, and it feels like you need to explore everything and get the full experience. I remember feeling bad when I didn’t have the energy to get out of bed and do what backpackers do. I felt guilty for staying in my room, enjoying quiet nights instead of partying, or just going for a walk instead of a hike. I felt like I needed to do all the things people expect me to do—from all the ideas on TikTok to all the must-see and must-do activities.
It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to be alone. It’s okay to lie in bed all day. It’s okay to not try every activity a place has to offer. It’s okay to not feel like it. Because this is your daily life. You wouldn’t expect yourself to do all of these things in your regular life, so why should it be any different now?
This can really help with homesickness, because sometimes people forget to allow themselves to rest.
Once, I met a girl in a hostel who had spent the whole day in bed watching trash TV. And she was so happy about it. Like, genuinely happy, that she even shared everything that happened in the show with us (two strangers). A few hours later, we found her crying because the show was over. It was the moment I realised I need to allow myself to rest more.
7. Change your mindset
When you struggle to enjoy your travel because you feel homesick, change your point of focus. Remind yourself how far you’ve come and that you did all of this by yourself. Focus on what’s happening in the moment—where you are and what’s amazing about this place. Focus on the little things around you: the people, the hostel activities, the landscapes, the plants, the animals, the buildings…
Sometimes, it’s also helpful to remind yourself what your life at home would be like. The people are still the same, the topics are probably still the same, and everyone is still living their regular work-life balance.
Appreciate what you have at the moment and where you are right now.
These were my 7 ways of how to deal with homesickness. Keep these things in mind and travelling will get so much easier, trust me!
Travelling will also get easier if you browse through our blog posts. If you’re interested in travelling to any of the marked areas, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and helpful guides linked. If you’re not planning to visit these places anytime soon, check out our general page – with helpful guides on backpacking, budget travelling, visas, accommodations, and more.
Johanna
About the Author:
If Johanna were a word, she would be "stardust" – nondescript, quiet, demure, until the passion appears that brings the stardust to fully unfold. She’s a traveler at heart, constantly curious to see more of the world, with a camera always close by to capture every moment just as it is. Whether she’s at a concert, lost in the music, or exploring a new city, Johanna’s world is filled with an endless curiosity and love for the little details that make life feel like stardust.
Johanna
About the Author:
If Johanna were a word, she would be “stardust” – nondescript, quiet, demure, until the passion appears that brings the stardust to fully unfold. She’s a traveler at heart, constantly curious to see more of the world, with a camera always close by to capture every moment just as it is. Whether she’s at a concert, lost in the music, or exploring a new city, Johanna’s world is filled with an endless curiosity and love for the little details that make life feel like stardust.
