Whether it’s freshman year or senior year, most students might experience the longing to go home to family, friends and pets.

Homesickness can be tough to overcome and many students might have have that opportunity very often.

To avoid homesickness here are some tips to cope with something many students go through:

Get some fresh air

Sitting inside and having a window propped open doesn’t count.

Getting fresh air means leaving the resident hall or apartment and going outside.

McCrory Gardens is a favorite spot for sophomore Noah Bunger, a double major in English and Spanish education. “It’s a place where I can be in my own world and destress. I can walk around, listen to my music on full blast and be alone with my thoughts for a while,” he said.

Join intramurals

Intramurals can also be a way for anyone to get out of their comfort zone.

Teams can be composed from former athletes to inexperienced students looking for a new way to be active. Intramurals can be a different way to build a new family at college.

They are a fun way to be athletic and try something new, as well as meet new people.

“I joined intramural(s) because it was an easy way to mix with different groups of people while staying out of trouble and having fun. It’s also a great way to stay competitive for past athletes who didn’t make it to the next level in sports,” senior journalism and communications studies major Rick Lund said. “It can also break up your week and distract you from the grueling reality of taking 16+ credits a semester.”

Call your parents

This is tricky and can make some students feel even more homesick, but talking to family might quell feeling the need to go home at every opportunity.

Some parents might offer advice to push you through the lows and support you through the highs.

Talk to them about your week and any plans you have and make them feel involved in your life – even if they aren’t close.

Write letters

Take time to write letters the old-fashioned way and talk to different family members.

Writing about school and other things happening while away from home is completely different than writing a five-page essay for a college English class and can be easier than you think.

Sarah Estrella, a sophomore economics major from California, said she was homesick the first month of freshman year, but found solace in writing letters home to her friends and family.

Decorate your room

Bring little things that remind you of home. These could include your favorite belonging from your youth or even photo albums of friends and family.

Having similar décor or furniture that reminds someone of home is another tip for curing homesickness.

Anything to bring a little piece of home to college can make a huge difference in your mood.

Look for friends

Creating a solid community of friends is a great way to feel safe, supported and welcomed in a home away from home.

Friends take effort and work, but, like any other new relationship, sticking it out could help form a life-long friendship.

The easiest way to make friends is to be social and honest. It can be as simple as walking up to someone and asking a question or giving a compliment.

“Because I was in the summer bridge program I only knew a handful of people in the beginning of the year, so I went and knocked on everyone’s door on my floor because I didn’t have a roommate and wanted to have a better experience than I had had in high school,” said Shaylah Montley, a freshman early and art education major.

Knowing people and being able to have others to talk to and laugh with on campus can help you relieve stress and forget missing home.

Join a club

Throughout the year, clubs can be found around campus advertising themselves to students.

There are a lot of them going on in the Student Union, usually early on in the year. Walk up to a table that fits one of your interests, attend the club meeting or contact someone in the club to get more information. Look at the multitude of posters hung around the Student Union and Bailey Rotunda which advertise different clubs.

Staying busy and involved can lead to new friends, opportunities and ease the feeling of homesickness.