Deciding to take a travel assignment is a huge step; both professionally and emotionally. It is only natural to have a little homesickness while you’re away. Finding the perfect balance of creating your own, new life while maintaining relationships back home is vital. This will help ensure you get a great traveling experience, yet won’t miss home24/7. Here are a few steps to take when preparing to leave home and some quick fixes for when you’re on assignment and are missing home a bit more than usual.
Find a Hobby
Hobbies, by definition, don’t require talent. My hobby is cooking recipes I see on the Food Network. Am I good at cooking? Not in the slightest; a lot of my food ends up burnt. The point is, I have a lot of fun doing it and it is something I look forward to. Finding something as small as trying to raise a house plant, to something as big as starting a book club will give you something to look forward to while you are traveling. Don’t be afraid to ask the other travelers at your facility if they’re a part of any fun clubs or side activities you could join in on! You never know what might be in store for you!
Call Your Mom
Or your dad, spouse, sibling, best friend or whoever you love talking to back home! It is so important to stay connected to your home life while you’re away. Heck, I live with my mom and I call her every day on my way home from work. Creating a routine conversation with someone back home will keep you in the loop, be the time you can spill on all the exciting moments of your travels, and lower your level of homesickness.
Take a Break from Social Media
Don’t let FOMO (the fear of missing out) eat away at the amazing experience you could be having while traveling. Put the phone down and come to terms that you don’t need to see all of your friend’s latest posts to be a good friend. Additionally, the less you’re on social media, the more apt you are to fully immerse yourself in the city you are traveling in. Of course, make time to intentionally maintain your relationships; but focus on enjoying yourself and excelling at work!
Find Some Good Local Food
You are definitely going to crave your favorite hometown food while you’re away. Instead of wishing you had a meal you can’t quite recreate, scope out a local restaurant to find a new, go-to comfort meal. This way, whenever you need a meal to make you feel warm and cozy, you know exactly where to go.
Keep a Routine
Don’t throw your body off by ditching your routine the day you start a new assignment. Sure, your routine may need some adjustments; but try sticking as close to your regular schedule as possible to ensure you stay happy, healthy, and successful. Be sure to incorporate some aspects of your daily routine back home with what you do while traveling. If you always went grocery shopping at Target on Saturdays at home, there is no reason to not keep doing the same! Routines help us feel grounded; and if we feel grounded, we are less likely to be missing home.
Don’t Feel Guilty for Not Always Missing Home
You’re excited to be traveling, your family is excited, and your friends are excited – everyone you know wants you to have the time of your life while on assignment! Never feel guilty for enjoying yourself more than you maybe thought you would. The sense of freedom and passion is a rare, but amazing feeling that not everyone is lucky enough to experience. Cherish every moment you have.
Of course, traveling affects us all in different ways. You can learn a lot more by living than preparing. While that might seem scary, the adrenaline rush that comes with it is like nothing else. What are some ways you kick homesickness while traveling?
Kaylie Honz works as a Recruiting and Sales Intern for Aureus Medical Group.