Fear Of Missing Out While Studying Abroad - How To Stay Connected
Fear Of Missing Out While Studying Abroad - How To Stay Connected
Students often worry about what they will miss out on at home while studying abroad, which is termed “FOMO.” ASA is here to reassure you that FOMO is manageable, and there’s no reason to let it keep you from having the experience of a lifetime abroad!
Most people think if you are about to embark on a life-changing experience you wouldn’t be concerned with people and places you’ve been surrounded by for your entire life, or at least the past few years at college. However, it’s very normal for students to be curious about what’s going on back home even with this adventure at the tip of their fingers. There’s no shame to feeling homesick or having FOMO while abroad, and ASA wants you to know that there are tools and resources to help minimize these feelings so that you can live your best life abroad!
WiFi exists. You will have WiFi at school, restaurants, coffee shops, and of course in your ASA housing, so it will be easy to stay connected to friends and family. However, we recommend reducing your social media use because constantly seeing others lives happening away from you tends to increase FOMO.
Video chat. Make a plan to video chat once a week with the important people in your life. Use FaceTime, Skype or WhatsApp! If you download WhatsApp or Skype, your friends/family must download it too. With these apps you can talk, text, and video chat on your phone or laptop for free on WiFi. Note: It will use data if there’s no WiFi.
Realize you’re doing cool stuff. You’ll be doing much more exciting things abroad than you would at your home college or university, so when you suddenly miss going to your favorite restaurant with your friends on Friday nights, look at all the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities you have EVERY DAY in your host country that will become amazing memories for you to share with your friends back home during those “date nights”!
Talk with your friends. There’s a good chance that the friends you’ve made abroad will relate to your FOMO. Talking about what you miss back home will inspire you to do more fun, adventurous things abroad to get over those blues!
Journal your feelings. Write down your daily thoughts, especially if you’re feeling homesick or experiencing FOMO. It’ll help alleviate stress and anxiety.
BE.IN.THE.PRESENT. Acknowledge your feelings, but know that everything back home will be waiting for you. Try not to long for what you will eventually return to, and instead focus on the amazing experience you’re having. It will go by faster than you think!
Studying abroad is kind of like driving a car. You need to keep your eyes on the road and focus on what is in front of you and all of the adventures ahead so you don’t pass by cool opportunities along the way. But it’s okay to check your rearview mirror every now and then to see how people and things that you left behind are doing. Mostly keep your eyes on the road though!!
Don’t forget you aren’t alone, so talk to your friends abroad about your feelings, and if these feelings don’t subside, speak to your Site Director!