Missing Home in Your First Year of MBBS? Here’s How to Cope.

Hello future doctors. Leaving home and moving to another city for medical college is a big change. In first year MBBS, most of us are living away from home for the first time in our lives. We feel excited about starting the medical journey but we also feel a sense of sadness, because we miss home. 

Let me tell you something. It’s okay to miss home. Home is our comfort zone. Your body is calm because you can predict people and things at home. Stepping out of your comfort zone is scary and I am so proud that you took that step.

Here are some things that helped me cope with homesickness in my first year. Hope they make your first year in medical college a little easier too.

Acknowledge your feelings (And Know You’re Not Alone)

The first step to dealing with homesickness is to accept that it’s okay to feel this way. You’ve just made a huge change. You are obviously going to feel uncomfortable at first. 

Remember that almost everybody in your class is going through the same thing. Some might talk about it but most don’t. Allow yourself to feel sad. You are not weak. And you’re not alone in this experience.

Instead of waiting for someone else to start the conversation, you go and talk to a batchmate about how you feel. Chances are, they’re missing home too. Sharing your feelings with someone can be comforting. And you will also make a friend this way.

Create a Routine and Try to Stuck to It

When you’re away from home, one of the things that makes you uncomfortable is the lack of structure. At home, everything has a routine – eating, waking up, sleeping at night, etc. What I’d suggest is – sit down with your roommate and try to create a routine for yourselves. It will help you feel more normal and less disoriented.

Break down your day into study time, classes, meals, and relaxation. Always include a hobby. It could be gymming, reading or music, whatever you like. Engaging in activities that you enjoy will help you feel more at ease in your new environment.

Keep talking to your family (But Not Too Much)

You might think that talking to your family the whole day will make you feel better, but that is not the case. Calling home throughout the day will make you feel more homesick because it reminds you of what you’re missing.

Try to set a limit to how much you call home. Talk to your family every couple of days instead of calling every few hours. This keeps you connected without overwhelming you with homesickness.

Go for video calls instead of voice calls. Seeing familiar faces can be comforting, especially during tough days.

Make Your Space Feel Like Home

New spaces make us uncomfortable. I tried to personalize my hostel room as much as I could. You too can make small changes in your hostel room/apartment to make it more homely and comfortable.

Start with decorating using familiar items: Put up pictures of your family and friends, or bring along your pillow or blanket. Personal touches can make your new space feel more like home.

Always bring along something from home. It can be a mug or a book, it can even be a keychain. Having any piece of home can bring comfort during lonely moments.

Select your friends wisely.

Homesickness can often be eased by creating a support system in your new environment. Talk to everybody in your first few days. It is normal to seek familiarity in friends, but try to branch out to people who are different from you.

The most important things you must look for in a friend are trust and comfort. Find friends who you can rely on. Sometimes, just having someone to talk to can make all of the difference.

In the initial days after joining college, you can ask about the college clubs and volunteer for open positions. This is a great way to meet new people who share similar interests. Group activities will help build long-lasting friendships and will also keep you engaged. This brings me to my next point…

Keep Yourself Busy

The more time you sit and think about home, the more sad you’ll feel. Keeping yourself busy is a good way to stop thinking about home.

You’re in a medical college now, and there are a lot of things you need to learn. Put your energy into studying. This will keep you busy and will also remind you why you’re here in the first place.

Try to know your campus, and places to eat nearby. Adjusting yourself with your new city can help you feel more connected to it.

Be Patient With Yourself

Now comes the toughest part. These feelings won’t just disappear overnight. It takes time to adjust to a new environment, so allow yourself to feel homesick without guilt for a while.

Focus on baby steps. The feeling is not just going to vanish all of a sudden, so focus on small wins every day. Over time, you’ll start to feel more comfortable and at home in your new environment.

Be gentle with yourself. Whether it’s making a new friend or exploring a new place on campus, celebrate the little moments.

You’ll Settle In, I Promise

I had a very hard time dealing with homesickness too. I used to feel like I’d never get over it. About 5 months in, I started to feel more at home in my hostel room. But honestly, there’s no timeline to it. Let yourself miss home. But don’t let it pull you back in a way that you forget to enjoy all the new things.

Keep busy and give it some time. Before you know, you’ll start to feel more settled. And whenever you’re feeling very down, just remember—you’ve got this, future doctor.