The Best Ways for Expats to Feel More at Home During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world in March 2020 put entire nations on lockdown and seriously restricted travel, especially between countries. When the lockdowns first went into effect, ex-pats all over the world had to make a quick decision whether to stay put in their new countries or try to race home. Many people couldn’t afford to travel home so quickly, while others had commitments like jobs, leases, and families that they couldn’t just put a stop to or uproot.
Being stuck so far from friends, family, and the comforts of home can add a whole new level to the feelings of isolation that everyone has been subjected to. If you’re an ex-pat who’s stuck far from home during the pandemic, here are a few ways you can get over your feelings of homesickness and feel more at home wherever you are.
The Best Ways to Get Over Homesickness
When you’re stuck in a rut, in isolation far away from the familiar things that make you most comfortable, it can be difficult to muster up the energy to make it through the days. Here are some simple ways you can get back to feeling good in your new home.
Make a Schedule and Stick to a Routine
No matter where you are in the world, one of the most important things you can do to feel positive and motivated everyday is to create a schedule for yourself and stick to a daily routine. Get a planner or use an app to carve out meal times, work times, personal time, and time to exercise. Follow your daily routine even when you don’t feel like it. Get dressed even if you have nowhere to go. This simple thing will give you a sense of purpose and confidence every day.
Keep Your Home Clutter-Free
If your home is a mess of clutter and there’s no distinguishable spaces for sleep, entertainment, eating, work, and exercise, start organizing. You’d be surprised by the wonders that an organized space can do for your mood. Also, when you create clear borders between areas where you engage in different activities, you’ll feel more motivated to follow a routine.
Carve Out Time for Friends and Family
One of the greatest things about technology is that it offers so many convenient ways to keep in touch with the people you love no matter how far away they are. Whether you want to use a tablet, smart TV, or smartphone, you can choose an app for video calls and set a time each week to connect with your friends and family. Call them one at a time or conference them all in for a virtual hang out session. While you can’t all be together in the same room, it’s the next best thing.
Indulge Your Nostalgia
If you’re missing a favorite food from home, gather the ingredients and learn to prepare it yourself. If you’re missing some favorite shows or movies from home, use a VPN service to connect your favorite content streaming service to the server from your country and get access to all the content you love.
Follow the tips above to get over your homesickness and feel more comfortable wherever you are in the world.
