Stay connected

Stay in touch with family and friends at home

Isolation and loneliness can have severe effects on your physical and mental health, so it is more important than ever to reach out to friends and family. Keeping in touch with loved ones can help you overcome overwhelming feelings of homesickness when living abroad during the pandemic.

In pre-pandemic times, you could easily fly home to visit your family, but with the way international travel has been affected, this is often no longer practicable because of testing and quarantine restrictions or the risks associated with long-haul flights. There are lots of other ways to connect with the people you love, even from halfway across the globe. Take advantage of video calling apps like facetime, skype, zoom, and Whatsapp to have face-to-face conversations with friends and family. Find innovative ways to celebrate major events, even from a distance. If one of your family members has passed an exam, plan a virtual party or send a gift to help mark the occasion. If you enjoy reading, you could set up a virtual book club with your family or friends.

Sign up for volunteering opportunities

Signing up to volunteer your time to a good cause is a great way to meet other people in your host country. By helping distribute food to the needy, save animals or build a shelter for the homeless, you will feel like your presence in your host country has meaning and purpose. By volunteering, you’re going to have something else to do, you’re going to make a positive impact, and you’re also going to meet other like-minded people. Helping-out a local organisation can really make you feel like part of the community too.

Learn the language

Learning the local language can be a fantastic way to connect with the native speakers. Even if English is widely spoken, you’ll be amazed at how much this will help you with everyday interactions, and locals will be much more likely to respond positively to you too. Where possible, attend a couple of language classes in person rather than online to help you meet fellow expats and better communicate with the locals. There are lots of free online language learning resources available as well which can help you on your way to mastering a second language.

Ask for help

And finally, if you’re still struggling with your mental health and overwhelming feelings of isolation and loneliness, it’s important to reach out and ask for professional help. Online counselling services can be a huge benefit in helping expats with the mental and emotional toil of living abroad. With our Expat Assistance Programme, you can be reassured that no matter what life throws at you, you can get support, anytime, anywhere.