Cheers to your bold move as a young adult! Leaving your cosy home for a new town is a big step towards independence. Congrats on this momentous decision!
Away from home, familiar faces, routines and haunts. Nervous? Of course, we all are when facing new challenges and uncertainty.
Jump to:
Are you excited about the next new adventure that life is leading you into?
Are you plagued with questions like
- “Will my new colleagues be nice?”
- “Boss? Will he or she be understanding?
- “What about my accommodations?”
For those of us who have never lived away from family, this is a bittersweet challenge and yet the electrifying taste of independence. The life that has trials and triumphs! We will navigate a complex path where we learn independence and how to cope with homesickness and loneliness.
There will be moments of thrill as we discover our strengths, our victories over the unknown and the joy of living life on your terms.
So let us embark on this exploration as we dive into the pleasures and pain points of living away from home.
Welcome to a new life, a rollercoaster of emotions that you will like to embrace.
Before we start, let me tell you that I lived in a hostel as a student for 2 years. For a person whose mother always saw to it that the home was clean and food was to my liking, it was a rude awakening.
The toilets had me gagging, and the food in the mess was a mess. There was no Swiggy or Zomato and even if there was, I do not think my pocket money and living expenses could afford it. I spent the night crying and the night after that too. I was miserable and homesick!
I was not alone. My roommate, who came a month later, went through the same struggle.
So what you will face will be
Homesickness and Loneliness
Homesickness and Loneliness: Suddenly, a pang of homesickness and loneliness will hit you. Especially when you are sick or upset about something, keep in touch with your family and old friends.
Join some hobby groups and learn new skills. This will keep you in the company of new friends.
In my case, it used to be when I saw the ton of jobs I had to do. Laundry, shopping or even washing up. It would be waiting for me after I came back from college. Amma was not there to do them for me. Studying or lolling around was not my only job anymore.
Time Management
Time Management: Your mental and physical well-being will depend on effective time management.
Do your chores as you go. Like making your bed as soon as you get up. Wash your breakfast plates and mugs immediately, then change into your college/ office wear. It also makes sense to arrange the clothes for the week in order as you wear them.
Maintenance
Maintenance: The challenge now that your father or brother is not around. Learn to do minor repairs like changing light bulbs. Even in the kitchen, you will find that you need a few skills. Take them in your stride and accept them as a challenge you must learn.
Adapting
Adapting: Away from home in India generally means a new city or country. You will need to adapt to the local culture and norms. Understanding transport logistics, housing, gas etc is part of the experience.
Personal Growth
Personal Growth: Do I sound like an Agony Aunt? Do you feel I am raining over your parade?
No-no away from home is a wonderful opportunity for personal growth. You develop better life skills like problem-solving and self-reliance.
In our case, we discovered that we could cook without having to rely on "help." Mind you, I am talking of the days when we had no mobile phones; the hostel did not even have a landline. Calling home meant going to the corner STD booth and was expensive.
Safety, Health and Wellness
Safety, Health and Wellness: You are now responsible for your physical and mental health.
Stay active, socialise, eat well, do not skip meals or cut corners. Seek support when you need it.
Remember the rule “Safety first” now this is more important. Know your neighbours, familiarize yourself with your neighbourhood and the safety measures. Follow them strictly.
Be careful while interacting with strangers.
How can I help you in your journey towards more independence? I plan to share lists of what you need to have in your pantry and easy meal recipes.
So this just about wraps up this chat about your home away from family. Enjoy the ride that it is and when all seems lost you find a silver lining in the sky.
Ready for more tips on navigating independence and making the most of your young adult journey? Subscribe now and explore helpful links for an exciting adventure ahead!
Mayuri Patel says
An excellent, useful article Archana. It reminds me of the time I was sent to boarding school at 11 because of the volatile political situation back home. It was suddenly you're thrown in the deep end without any floaters! But is is amazing how quickly we learn as we go along. I made sure I taught all my three to do basic chores, in spite of being told by my MIL that I am not allowing the kids to be. When they went away, I was not worried that much. Yes missed them terribly.
ArchanaPotdar says
Missing them is something we cannot avoid. But tying them down is again bad for the kids. Sometimes I wish I was a bird take care of the kids when they fly away I go about my business without missing them or hoping to see them everyday.
Jayashree .T.Rao says
Living away from the family brings with it a set of responsibilities. This is a useful post for all the young teens and parents.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.