Moving away from home is daunting, there’s no denying that. Moving away from the things that offer familiarity and provide comfort makes being in a new and uncharted place seem far more intimidating.
I have admittedly had my struggles with keeping in touch and staying connected with my family and friends, especially in the busier times during the year like assignment/exam season.
So, now going into second year I’d like to write a guide for Freshers on ways to keep in touch with those most important to you. Whether it be sending each other fun photos of your day, or planning visits during the holidays, there are always ways to stay connected to your loved ones, even when you’re far away.
Calling and Facetiming
The easiest way I’ve found to keep in touch with friends and family is to call them. Phoning your family regularly, whether it be daily, every other day or weekly, having a conversation virtually face-to-face with someone is far more personal and connecting than a quick text.
This is a personable way to keep your family informed on what adventures you’re getting up to at uni, and also for you to do the same and find out what they’re getting up to, to stay connected with those you love.
While life at home doesn’t stop when you move away and things can get conflicting with time, calling my parents on an evening helped us stay connected so I could find out how they were doing. This helped me still feel connected to life at home, even when I was miles away.
Going home for reading weeks and holidays
Going home for reading weeks and holidays was something that made the world of difference for both me and my family/friends. It makes staying connected so much easier as we could spend face-to-face time together for a longer period of time.
I was lucky enough that home wasn’t too extensive of a travel for me, which I had planned when choosing which university I wanted to go to back in high school as I knew I wanted to be able to go home when I needed to.
Being able to spend special holidays like Christmas and birthdays with family at home can make everything seem so much less scary, as you can return to the places and people that make you feel like a kid again when adult life becomes quite overwhelming.
Not so scary after all
So, even though life can get busy and people can drift when things get hectic, it doesn’t mean that it has to be impossible to stay connected with those you love.
Making the time and effort to put work into your friendships and relationships with your family is so important, and these things can significantly help to keep open communication and make sure everyone is on a similar page of the big story that is our lives.
Featured image credit: Amelia Fryer
