When your spouse is stationed at a new base, moving and starting over can bring about a unique set of challenges. Moving away from family, established friend groups, and creating a brand new routine can bring about feelings of homesickness.

Sometimes, fear can get to you. As a milspouse you might wonder if you will fit right in at the new base, or if it will take time to adjust.

Being homesick while in the military is common, but spouses also deal with homesickness. When you and your spouse move to a new base, many questions will likely cross your mind, “Will I make friends? Will I belong? Where will I work?”

Sometimes the fear of the unknown can lead to one feeling homesick for past places. However, it is important to know that you’re not alone in these feelings; almost everyone experiences this.

Below, we are sharing some tips to help you combat homesickness, helping you plant roots quickly before these feelings set in.

Have Some Things to Look Forward to

Before moving to a new station your spouse is assigned to, you can look up places or areas that you would want to visit with them or places that have activities you want to try. Sometimes, just having something to look forward to can really help one cope.

You can create a bucket list of those places and even some activities you want to do. Bucket lists can create expectations that can make you excited, and it can help remove the thought that the new place is boring, or that there’s nothing to do in the new area you're living in.

So, try to create a list of fun things that you might want to look forward to with your spouse, like exploring parks, festivals, or anything else that you might find exciting if you’re able to go where they are stationed.

Always Remember What You Love

To feel a little bit of ease, lean into doing the things you love. Do your hobbies, have fun with your community, and keep some semblance of your old routine.

Or if you are just someone who wants to collect stuff or souvenirs, you can buy anything that will remind you of home.

Remember what you love doing, may it be cooking, journaling, or gardening. With that, you can take time to reflect, as being one with your soul can also help you cope.

Offer Support and Lean on Your Community

Yes, we might be homesick, but let’s remember that your active duty spouse is likely homesick as well. Sometimes, finding or offering support can make a big difference.

Consider creating a space that feels like home. Having a space where you feel safe and supported while your spouse is serving can help make you feel more comforted.

You also have to remember that you need to have support and a safe space. So don’t crumble alone in your space and be sad, consider talking to someone about how you feel, sometimes, that’s all we need to feel comforted.

The milspouse community is full of strong individuals, who are likely experiencing the same emotions. Consider talking with and leaning on your community.

Set Aside Time to Connect with Fellow Milspouses

Another way to cope with feelings of homesickness is to get involved with fellow milspouses. Having a connection within the milspouse community is also one way to avoid homesickness because it helps you feel that you belong.

When we’re alone and away from our spouse, we want to distract ourselves from the fact that they are away, so we want to put in our mind that this is the moment that we want to create new memories.

Don’t make it a mindset that you are not able to meet other people or do new activities just because they are away; that’s totally normal. Just to remind you, it’s always okay to create new memories if that’s the way you are coping.

Your way of building a connection to your new community is making sure to click with them, and for sure, they will help lessen homesickness and make your surroundings feel a whole lot more like your home.

Being Homesick Is Totally Normal

Homesickness is normal, especially if your spouse is stationed at a new base and everything feels unfamiliar. All of these things can help you change your mindset from what was missing to embracing what is there.

Let’s remember that these tips can help one cope with homesickness, but that being away from your spouse, for a prolonged period of time, can be a real challenge. Consider extending an open arm, and forming connections with other milspouses during your time at a new base.

Read next:

• Executive Order Expands School Choice Opportunities for Military Families
• 9 Military Influencers You Should Be Following Right Now
• 4 Simple Ways to Celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Sources:

• When You’re Homesick at Your New Base