5 Ways to Cope with Homesickness
And other tips for loneliness

Roses, hearts, and googly eyes everywhere this month of love, but to an OFW, this is just an ordinary month. Thanks to modern technology, we can stay connected to our loved ones 24/7, but when bouts of homesickness kick in, video calls sometimes just don’t cut it anymore.

When these happen, tips on coping with loneliness are a welcome treat. 
Here’s how:

Explore and Make Friends.


Get to know the city. Visit popular sites, new attractions, and try local cuisine. Think of it as a long vacation. Be intentional in understanding the country’s culture and history. Feel good about the place and soon enough new friends will find you.
Feel Good and Be Happy 
Feeling good starts with yourself. A simple walk to the MRT can release endorphins that will make you feel better. Jog around the block, or look for studios that offer dance classes. The key is to do what you like to feel better. Remember, just because you are alone right now doesn’t mean that this won’t ever change.
Unplugged it!

We get it, reading posts and liking photos on social media are a great tool to keep track of what everybody else is doing, but this may actually add on to your homesickness. Seeing how people are moving on with their lives without you back home may not be the best for now. Take a break from social media or limit your scrolling time. Instead of looking at what everyone else is doing, go outside and enjoy the scenery. Be a tourist and post pictures of your new environment or join a local sporting league to show it to friends and family – for sure they are dying to know more about you.
Make someone happy, Surprise them with a gift.

Websites and apps are crawling with online shops where you can easily buy gifts and trinkets that are neatly wrapped to surprise your loved ones. Did you know that you can also purchase flowers online and have them delivered anywhere in the world? Neat right? Just be mindful that you are dealing with legit sellers who won’t just take your hard-earned cash. For everything else, there’s always MoneyGram. Filipinos abroad can take advantage of its global network of approximately 350,000 locations in 200 countries and territories worldwide while receivers will have the convenience of receiving these from more than 12,000 locations across the Philippines. Did you know that you can also send money online or in person to any bank account via cash or credit? Doing money matters has never been this easy. MoneyGram’s network allows people to send and receive cash anytime from anywhere in the world hassle-free.


If all else fails... Book it! 
Be on the lookout for travel fairs and seat sales to score a flight back home. Scour the internet and other apps for the cheapest and most convenient ticket. Nothing beats the rush of finally being able to touch your loved one.