It’s not shameful to feel homesick as an overseas worker. But it can leave you with a feeling of overwhelming sadness during work. These tips will give you ways to cope with homesickness as an OFW.
Congratulations!
The first few weeks at your new job abroad have gone off without a hitch! It’s probably because of all the excitement surrounding moving to a new country, living in a new place, meeting new people, and crafting a new routine. However, there may be times where you feel like something is amiss. Between the twists and turns of your routine you find gaps where things from back home should be. Maybe the coffee shop you frequent uses too much milk and you crave your coffee shop back home. Maybe the unfamiliar sound of the native language makes you miss the sound of your own. Maybe seeing a family enjoy their day at the park makes you long for yours. Maybe you start to feel homesick.
The first few weeks at your new job abroad have gone off without a hitch! It’s probably because of all the excitement surrounding moving to a new country, living in a new place, meeting new people, and crafting a new routine. However, there may be times where you feel like something is amiss. Between the twists and turns of your routine you find gaps where things from back home should be. Maybe the coffee shop you frequent uses too much milk and you crave your coffee shop back home. Maybe the unfamiliar sound of the native language makes you miss the sound of your own. Maybe seeing a family enjoy their day at the park makes you long for yours. Maybe you start to feel homesick.
First things first, don’t be ashamed. Feeling homesick is a natural, human experience. You are simply reacting to a big change and that’s completely normal. Nonetheless, this yearning and emotional pain can be unbearable and prolonged emotional stress is not good for one’s mental health. This in addition to the workload from your new job can become a burden which leads you to subconsciously neglect one or the other! So again, first things first, don’t try to bury these feelings in the back of your mind. They will only pile up. Next, try doing some of these tips in order to help you better adjust to a new lifestyle which, in turn, will help you cope with homesickness.
LET YOURSELF BE AN EXPLORER
Starting a new life in a new country with a new job filled you with so much excitement that you probably went straight into work. This is understandable. After all, you just wanted to show your best self and charge into new challenges and opportunities. However, you skipped out on letting yourself get acquainted to your new country of work. This is important because it allows you to explore your new home until you find the places you feel are right for you.
Starting a new life in a new country with a new job filled you with so much excitement that you probably went straight into work. This is understandable. After all, you just wanted to show your best self and charge into new challenges and opportunities. However, you skipped out on letting yourself get acquainted to your new country of work. This is important because it allows you to explore your new home until you find the places you feel are right for you.
TAKE IT EASY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media can be both a blessing and a curse, but this fact seems to be made more true by the fact that you are now living and working in a different country. Scrolling through the photos that your friends and family have posted on social media, while comforting at first, can exacerbate the painful feeling that you are missing out. Set a limit on the amount of time you spend scrolling through social media. It will be good for your mental and emotional well-being. When you do decide to check out your social media accounts, don’t forget to post your own photos as well. Think of it as building an album documenting your journey.
Social media can be both a blessing and a curse, but this fact seems to be made more true by the fact that you are now living and working in a different country. Scrolling through the photos that your friends and family have posted on social media, while comforting at first, can exacerbate the painful feeling that you are missing out. Set a limit on the amount of time you spend scrolling through social media. It will be good for your mental and emotional well-being. When you do decide to check out your social media accounts, don’t forget to post your own photos as well. Think of it as building an album documenting your journey.
Always remember not to feel too bad about being homesick. Adapting to change needs time just like any other learning curve. Remember why you took this opportunity in the first place and stick to your goals. You are stronger than this so get out there and explore your new home! Make little spaces for yourself wherever you see fit and if you’re needing a bit more help adjusting to your new life and job abroad, you can check out WorkAbroad.ph for more tips. Go forth, explorer!