this stress can take a toll on your mental well-being
Discover why Desi expats still feel homesick years after moving abroad, and explore proven ways to stay connected, cope emotionally, and build a new sense of home.
Everyone has a moment of missing home – whether constant or momentary.
That’s why we decided to collect some tips on dealing with homesickness.
Read on and start enjoying your life abroad a little bit more.
Why you are feeling homesick
To understand how to overcome homesickness abroad, we should know what’s hidden behind this feeling.
Unfamiliar routine
An immigrant’s life is all about adapting to new cultures, rules, and everyday realities.
Suddenly, your shopping habits shift because stores close at 7 pm, or you find yourself missing the beach while struggling through the summer heat.
It’s the little things that stir up the deepest nostalgia.
Identity crisis
Your surroundings change—and so do your social roles. You’re trying to fit in, battling loneliness, and eventually, it gets exhausting.
It’s completely normal to start missing your family and your old life, where you were a ‘parent,’ a ‘child,’ or simply a ‘local.’
Cultural gap
People speak a different language, celebrate unfamiliar holidays, and sometimes act in ways that feel foreign.
Are they aliens? Of course not—but the cultural shock is real.
Over time, this stress can take a toll on your mental well-being, especially during long-term migration.
Dealing with homesickness is the price you pay for a better life you seek abroad.
However, it’s early to give up, as there are some ways to overcome loneliness. Let’s explore how to handle homesickness.
How to overcome homesickness abroad
We’ll cover three methods of dealing with homesickness.
How to cope with homesickness: Find your favourite spot
People often underestimate the power of pretty places.
For homesick expats, finding a lovely coffee shop, a park or a hidden area near the river may be a happy ticket to mental stability.
Go there often, order your favourite drinks, grab a book and create nice memories.
This is one of the best tips on how to handle homesickness.
How to handle homesickness: Support your family
The best expat’s support comes from the dear people back home. Keep your emotional bonding with the loved ones:
- Call them often
- Create group chats where you can yap about everything
- Come up with small rituals and traditions. or example, you and your relatives can cook one dish every weekend and then share your opinions on the recipe.
- Support them financially. Acts of service show how deep your love is—even a cent will make them happy.
To send money fast and beneficially, use Profee, an online money transfer service:
- 0% fee and exclusive exchange rate as a first-time gift
- Market-beating rates for all transfers—send more to your family instead of losing money on the conversion.
- To send funds in minutes, use bank cards and Apple/Google Pay.
How to cope with homesickness: Connect to other expats
Find Desi expats online, in an office or at the university.
You’re not alone on this journey—they’ll know exactly how you feel, and it’s fertile ground for building strong relationships.
Also, visit events and celebrations so you do not miss your cultural roots.
Search for ‘Desi culture events near me’, ‘Pakistani/Bangladeshi/Indian diaspora in [city]’ or ‘Desi festival in [city]’.
Some of them are free, so it’s a wallet-friendly tip on how to overcome homesickness abroad.
Wrapping up
Now, you know how to overcome homesickness abroad.
Of course, there are more ways, but start with these three and see how they help.
Take care of yourself and find joy in your expat’s life.
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