{"id":4341,"date":"2012-10-03T12:44:42","date_gmt":"2012-10-03T12:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.studyabroad101.com\/?p=4341"},"modified":"2022-11-03T15:46:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T19:46:00","slug":"wellness-wednesday-5-tips-for-study-abroad-well-being","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.studyabroad101.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/wellness-wednesday-5-tips-for-study-abroad-well-being\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellness Wednesday: 5 Tips for Study Abroad Well-being"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the second installment of Wellness Wednesdays featuring Abroad101’s expert on expat emotional health, Melissa Doman.\u00a0\u00a0Below Melissa shares with us the Top 5 tips<\/strong> for preparing yourself emotionally to study abroad.<\/p>\n

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Studying abroad will not only be one of the best adventures of your life, but it may be one of the most important personal development experiences that you will have as a young adult. Awesome excursions and delectable foreign cuisine aside, you\u2019re about to embark on an amazing cultural immersion journey that will give you a global perspective and change your sense of self \u2013 for the better!<\/p>\n

By this time, I\u2019m sure your family and friends have given you plenty of tips on preparation for study abroad. \u00a0They’ve likely overloaded you with such phrases as, \u201cdon\u2019t forget to pack this!\u201d or\u00a0 \u201cwill they have peanut butter there?\u201d and the classic \u201c honey you can never have enough socks!\u201d \u00a0What I\u2019m here to do is give you tips on how to manage something we often forget to check in with during major times of transition: our emotions and well-being.<\/strong> While you\u2019re packing up your stuff and preparing for your journey, here are a few tips to keep your lovely college-educated brains in check:<\/p>\n

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  1. Set up a support system.<\/strong> Talk to your study abroad advisor, college counselor, or family members about your concerns. Whether it\u2019s friends at home you can Skype with, or finding people in your program that can connect with, remember you\u2019re not in this alone.<\/li>\n
  2. Do your research!<\/strong>\u00a0Before heading abroad, find out about cultural nuances and customs in your host country. We often handle change better when we have briefed ourselves on what to expect.<\/li>\n
  3. Make a bucket list!<\/strong> Outline personal goals for your study abroad experience. Whether it\u2019s frolicking with exotic animals or enjoying an authentic meal with your host family \u2013 try anything you can!<\/li>\n
  4. Your study abroad experience is your own.<\/strong> Don\u2019t compare yourself to those around you. Everyone\u2019s experience will be unique in it\u2019s own way and we\u2019re all on our own timeline.<\/li>\n
  5. What goes up must come down.<\/strong>\u00a0When you leave home and go abroad, you may experience some mild emotional ups and downs. \u00a0Not to worry though, experiencing the blues or feeling a bit anxious is a normal part of the change process \u2013 especially when it comes to cultural adjustment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Remember, most people may never get the experience to live in another country, or even leave their own state. You\u2019ve been given an extraordinary opportunity \u2013 use it in every way you can! I’ll end with the words of Charles Dudley Warner, \u201cthere is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.\u201d Bon voyage!<\/p>\n

    Want to read student reviews to find the perfect study abroad program for you? \u00a0Visit Abroad101!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Welcome to the second installment of Wellness Wednesdays featuring Abroad101’s expert on expat emotional health, Melissa Doman.\u00a0\u00a0Below Melissa shares with us the Top 5 tips for preparing yourself emotionally to study abroad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[1,356],"tags":[360],"ppma_author":[681],"class_list":["post-4341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-wellness-wednesday","tag-well-being","author-sarahhanley"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t