homesickComing to college can be a difficult transition as our students move away from friends and family and begin to experience their newfound independence. Current circumstances can make it even more difficult for students to stay connected and feel at home on campus. Even if it’s not obvious, many of our students are experiencing feelings of homesickness and loneliness. Here are some ways you can help your student cope.

Keeping in touch

Encourage your student to keep in touch with their friends and family back home. Even if their friends are attending different colleges or living in different cities, it’s important for them to check in and catch up. If you are worried about how your student is doing, don’t be afraid to reach out and talk through it. Allow them to share their experience with you, and be there for them through tough emotions. Helping our students stay in contact with people they love can help them feel like they’re not alone and remind them that they have people to rely on in tough times.

Exploring campus

Transitions can be hard, but they tend to get easier once students get used to their new surroundings. Encourage your student to take some time to explore campus and areas around Boulder. This can help them discover a new favorite place to grab a coffee, study or hang out between classes. Finding places that feel like home on campus can help ease feelings of homesickness and isolation.

Connecting

While physical distancing can put a damper on making friends, it’s still important for students to get connected on campus. Encourage your student to get to know their roommate and other people in their residence hall. If your student is looking to branch out, encourage them to look for other ways to get involved on campus like joining a student organization, signing up for an Intramural Sports league, attending events or forming study groups in class. Remind your student to be inclusive and understand that other students may also be struggling, too. If your student notices someone is uncomfortable in a group, remind them that they can be the one to break the ice and introduce them to others. 

Setting routines

Establishing a routine is a great way students can ease anxiety and feelings of uncertainty. Let your student know that if they don’t have to make a minute-by-minute schedule - a rough plan will do. Things like taking the same route to and from their classes, planning to have their meals around the same time each day and creating a morning and nighttime routine to help them get enough sleep (7-9 hours per night) are great examples of healthy routines. If your student is struggling, you can help them identify a routine, no matter how small it may be, to help them feel more in control of their day. 

Finding resources to help

If your student is feeling overwhelmed or struggling, they’re not alone. There are plenty of resources on campus that can help. Here are a couple of resources you can encourage your student to check out:

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