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Are you struggling with homesickness? Or nervous about the prospect of moving away from home? Don’t worry – you’re not alone.

I’m a freshman English major here at Fox, and moving to Oregon from Colorado to attend college was one of the most intimidating things I have ever done. I’m from New Castle, Colorado, a very small town on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. Leaving it for Oregon was incredibly hard, especially at first.

When I got to Oregon, I missed everything I had left behind. I was scared that, with so much to miss, I would never be able to call Fox home. But in the months that I’ve been here I’ve learned how to cure homesickness. Here are eight things that helped me. I hope they help you too!

Stay in touch.

It can get difficult in the hubbub of college life to make time to talk to the people you left behind. Everyone is busy, but try to make the effort to set aside specific times to communicate with your friends and family. In this day and age there’s so many ways of talking to someone who is far away. You can text, call, video chat, or even send letters (one of my favorite things to do). This helps you stay close with people you don’t see every day anymore.

Get involved.

There’s so many opportunities on and off campus to get involved in your new community. Find a church, club, sport or organization, and put yourself out there. I know it can be scary, but isolating yourself is much worse for your homesickness. You can’t make friends by staying in your dorm room. Find what you’re passionate about, get involved, and soon you’ll be making lifelong friends and connections.

Try new things.

Being afraid to try new things is natural, and there’s so many new experiences and opportunities here that it might seem overwhelming. But you might find something new that you didn’t even know existed, and it might become your favorite thing in the world. If you’re scared of an opportunity, experience, activity, class or food, that’s a good sign you should do that thing. The worst that can happen is you learn something. So say yes instead of saying no, and you might just find your new favorite thing!

Work hard.

This could be school, sports or work related, but whatever you’re doing, work really hard. Take an extra class, find a job (or two … college is expensive), or join a sport. Do something that requires focus, effort and grit. Doing hard things is really good for you. If you’re sitting around in your dorm room thinking about home, get up and get to work. I promise it’ll help get your mind off your woes and grow your character in the process.

Explore.

Newberg is so full of fun things to do, and so close to lots of other amazing places. Try a new coffee shop or thrift store, drive an hour to the Oregon Coast, take a hike in the woods, go visit Portland, or take a drive and explore Washington. This might not be your home, but for once that’s a good thing. You get to figure out the ins and outs of a big new place, and that’s exciting!

Take care of yourself.

In the midst of homework and classes, self-care can get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. It can be difficult, but consciously make time to take care of your needs, both physically and mentally. Get a pick-me-up treat, make time to watch a fun show or read a book, get outside, take a long shower, try coloring or drawing, or journal about how you’re feeling. Showing up for class is important, but showing up for yourself is just as necessary.

Ask for help when you need it.

Asking for help is hard for all of us, but the Be Known promise is real here at Fox. I’ve experienced it many times. Your professors and friends care about you and want to know you. They would love to help, but they can’t unless they know you’re going through a tough time. Letting people in is important because you can’t do everything on your own. Once you realize your limits, you’ll realize how freeing it is to let someone else help you when you’re struggling.

Connect with God.

When all else fails, one thing remains and that is our Lord and Savior. However your faith journey looks, Jesus Christ died for you, and he cares deeply about you as an individual. He cares that you miss your plants, your bedroom window, or your cat. He knows how much you love your family and friends. He wants to help you when you’re overwhelmed with life.

Psalm 55:2 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” Connecting with God can look like a whispered prayer in the morning, sitting in the comforting and quiet chapel, meditating in nature, finding a church to regularly attend, asking a friend or mentor to pray with you, or making a habit of reading Scripture every day. When you’re far away from home, lean on Jesus – he’s always with you.