✈️ How to Deal with Travel Fatigue and Homesickness Like a Pro

Because even adventurers need a break sometimes

Studying abroad or travelling as a student can feel like living the dream — new places, new people, total freedom. But what no one talks about enough is that sometimes, even while exploring beautiful cities or eating your weight in croissants, you can feel… kinda off.

Maybe you’re tired. Maybe you really miss your dog. Maybe you just want a proper cup of tea and your own bed.

That’s travel fatigue and homesickness — and they’re totally normal. Here's how to handle them like the travel-savvy student you are.

1. 😴 Listen to Your Body

Jet lag, long bus rides, hostels with snorers — it adds up.

Fix it like a pro:

• Prioritise sleep, even if it means skipping a night out.

• Take a slow day — no agenda, no guilt.

• Stay hydrated (yes, even when the €4 coffee is calling).

Remember: You don’t need to “do it all” every day.

2. 🧠 Acknowledge Homesickness (Don’t Fight It)

Missing home doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means you have people and places you care about.

Fix it like a pro:

• Video call friends or family, but set boundaries — don’t spend all day online.

• Bring something familiar with you: a photo, a playlist, your favourite hoodie.

• Journal how you feel — it's like talking to a best friend without time zones.

3. 🌍 Find Comfort in the Little Things

It’s okay to crave routine. Your brain loves it.

Fix it like a pro:

• Create small rituals (morning walk, coffee at the same café, weekly market visit).

• Learn where the locals go — supermarkets, libraries, or chill parks can feel grounding.

• Cook a familiar meal (ISIC discounts at grocery stores help here!).

4. 🤝 Connect — Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Travel fatigue can make you want to retreat, but community is medicine.

Fix it like a pro:

• Join a student group, club, or local meetup (check uni bulletin boards or Facebook groups).

• Use your ISIC card to try local events — art nights, museum tours, student nights out.

• Be brave and say “hi” — chances are, others feel the same.

5. 🧘 Take a Mental Break from Travel Mode

Yes, you're abroad. No, you don't have to go-go-go every second.

Fix it like a pro:

• Stay in one weekend and do absolutely nothing.

• Watch a show from home. Read a book (maybe from this list).

• Let yourself miss home — then go find a great pastry and feel better.

6. 📍Stay Present, Not Perfect

Your trip doesn’t have to look like an Instagram highlight reel to be meaningful.

Fix it like a pro:

• Ditch the pressure to make “every second count.”

• Focus on small wins — a conversation in a new language, navigating the bus, trying something weird and loving it.

• Remember why you came. Growth is messy — and that’s okay.

Traveling and studying abroad is exciting, but it’s also a lot. If you're feeling run-down or homesick, you're not failing — you're human.

So take a breath, rest when you need to, talk to people who get it, and give yourself grace. You’ve come further than you think.

And don’t forget: Your ISIC card is more than a discount tool — it’s a student pass to local comforts, international networks, and support systems that make travel life easier. Use it well!