You’re going to study in a new country? That’s awesome! That means you’re going to be meeting a lot of new people, experience the new culture and have loads of fun! Well, that should be the case of the ideal scenario where everything is all sweet and flowers.
However, studying abroad life is not always like that – people react differently in various circumstances. And that’s OK – it’s the differences which make us so beautiful as a human race!There will be depressive and lonely times when studying abroad. Until you adapt to the new conditions of life.
Thus, although we cannot dictate the way you feel, the least we can do is offer you these 5 tips on how to overcome loneliness when studying abroad in the following blog, so let’s get started, shall we? ?
1. DON’T lock yourself up!
When they feel low, humans tend to isolate themselves from others in the hope that they would feel more protected within their four walls. That is absolutely normal – it is but a natural response against potential ‘threats’ that might arise if you were to be outside your home and it usually happens when the subconscious mind takes over the brain and its actions.
However, locking yourself up in your room is the last thing that you need during lonely times. It may sound like a cliché, but there have been numerous studies confirming that socialising really helps people getting out of their loneliness and depression. So try avoiding the daily bed-classes-bed routine and stay outside as much as you can!
2. Go TINDER yourself!
We all need a hug from time to time, right? Especially during lonely times. Especially from the right person. So what better way to find them than on dating apps such as Tinder or Happn? There are actually loads of apps with the same purpose and that’s good, it means there are higher chances of finding your soulmate in a bigger pool of people 😀 . They are free to use and you don’t need to marry your date – worst case scenario you may just have a not so pleasant dinner ?
3. MeetUp is the answer!
As a foreign student in the country that you are studying, you should be aware of the presence of this magnificent application called MeetUp. If not, look it up because through it, you can pretty much never get bored. No matter which day of the week it is, locals and expats together post about events on various topics (ranging from socials to food tastings or rooftop parties) in different places in the city where you study. It’s a great way to break out of your loneliness, as socialising will keep your mind busy ?. There are other applications such as Internations (expats only) or Couchsurfing serving the same purpose, so might as well check them out too!
4. Exercising is loneliness’s biggest enemy
Even during your most lonely times, you MUST exercise. Not because a blog tells you to, but because it is extremely beneficial for yourself. Why? Because during exercise, the human body releases the two most important ‘happiness’ hormones – endorphins and serotonin, responsible for our general personal wellbeing. Research studies show that being responsible for that function, exercising fights loneliness and depression on the highest level – so what are you waiting for? Put those running shoes on!
5. Start practicing Mindfulness Meditation
Loneliness is nothing but a feeling. You are not your feelings though. To realise that, you need to start practicing mindfulness meditation – the best way to silence those voices inside the mind ?. We are not going to explain what it is, you have to experience for yourself! One of the best YouTube channels we can recommend is Jason Stephenson’s; his meditation videos are just… soothing.
Online Open Days
Studying abroad means getting 100% out of your comfort zone. Not everyone can do that, so you should feel proud that you’ve taken this step! It is an experience that will shape you and make you stronger than ever. There will be stressful and hard times, but we hope by using our tips above you will overcome loneliness! So for all of you warriors out there, don’t be afraid – check out our Recorded or Upcoming Online Open Days and get ready for your adventure!
