{"id":8254,"date":"2018-05-04T10:51:18","date_gmt":"2018-05-04T02:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat.metroresidences.com\/sg\/?p=8254"},"modified":"2018-05-04T10:57:19","modified_gmt":"2018-05-04T02:57:19","slug":"the-best-cure-for-the-homesick-expat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat.metroresidences.com\/sg\/everyday-living\/the-best-cure-for-the-homesick-expat\/","title":{"rendered":"The best cure for the homesick expat"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color=”#fefeff” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”10px” top_margin=”-20%” width=”5\/6″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none”]
<\/div><\/div>[vc_custom_heading text=”The best cure for the homesick expat” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1525401383795{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525402528306{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Homesickness is not so much a <\/span>culture shock<\/span><\/a>, or hatred for your newly found <\/span>troubles whilst travelling for business<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s about missing your life back at home. As much as you\u2019re not defined by your job, it has brought you all the way across the world to serviced apartments in Singapore, and it\u2019s more than natural to be homesick.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”1. Inoculate yourself.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525402082314{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]As they say, prevention is better than cure. Practise some time away from home. Get familiar with being away from home for short periods of time before your actual trip. This can be done in increments – try a day, a weekend away, and so on. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”2. Start your trip as a tourist, then an expat.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525401509979{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Immerse yourself in the culture by playing the tourist. Get your camera out, take pictures, visit the famed attractions and dive right into the culture. This gets you right into the culture and your new way of life, helping you gain familiarity quickly.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”3. Disconnect to connect.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]
\"\"<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525401555703{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]If you\u2019re on social media, you might get hit with <\/span>FOMO<\/span><\/a>, the Fear Of Missing Out. You\u2019ll scroll through and see friends and family enjoying life back at home with comforts that you know and love. Even though you’re the one overseas living the exotic life, missing out on fun or precious moments with the loved ones can be pretty tough to endure. Get off social media unless it’s to make new friends in your new country.<\/span><\/p>\n

What helps, however, is reconnecting with loved ones – use <\/span>Skype<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Discord<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Google Duo<\/span><\/a> to reconnect via video calling.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”4. Stimulate a routine from home.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525401594786{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Get a simple routine going, to gain familiarity. Especially if it’s a routine that can be adopted from home. Simple stuff like attending the same classes, or making the daily breakfast that you made back at home.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”5. Bring mementoes from home to your new serviced apartment.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

\"\"<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525401764826{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Having some mementoes to remind you of home and your loved ones can be comforting, but be sure to frame your mind. Having a reminder can be painful or it could motivate you. Tell yourself that you\u2019re working overseas for their sakes. This serves as added motivation to get you going when you\u2019re alone in a foreign country. <\/span><\/p>\n

Getting your favourite food, watching your favourite TV show are other ways you can comfort yourself with little reminders of home. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”6. Be in the pink of health to put a smile back on your face.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

\"\"<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525401941413{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Unhealthy thoughts often stem from an unhealthy lifestyle. Keep healthy and curb bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking. Lace up your trainers and go for a jog or hit the gym. <\/span><\/p>\n

Exercise has always been proven to increase the brain\u2019s sensitivity for the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine (relieves depression, that could possibly come from homesickness) and the production of the endorphins, which are known to help produce happy feelings and reduce the perception of pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exercise is nothing without a healthy diet either, so we\u2019ve come up with some ways you can <\/span>eat clean in Singapore<\/span><\/a>. Also, get yourself a fully furnished serviced apartment<\/a>, complete with a kitchen, and gym and swimming pool amenities to make living healthily easy. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”7. Stop dwelling on life in the past.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

\"\"<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1525402243338{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]It\u2019s rather easy to compare how good life was at home to now, so this step is the hardest. Gear your mind to stop thinking about how good life was back at home. While reminiscing about happy memories once in awhile is nice, but overdo it and you\u2019ll start resenting your life here. The best way to do this is to keep yourself busy and you won\u2019t lapse into bad thoughts. Pick up hobbies, classes or a new sport with your colleagues.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/6″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_widget_sidebar enable_sticky=”true” sidebar_id=”blog-sidebar”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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