With the halfway point of the term passing, as you take stock of the destruction Week Five left in its wake, it’s normal to feel like home is a million miles away – whether it’s across the county or across the globe. The good news is that you’re never alone in feeling homesick, and there are things you can do to feel more settled. Cheering yourself up at university doesn’t have to be expensive, so here are my five top tips on making Cambridge feel more like your home away from home.

1. Explore the city’s different study spaces

It’s easy to get dragged down by the seemingly never-ending deadlines that are looming, leaving you trapped in the library each day. But have no fear! In my completely unbiased opinion, we have the prettiest city on our doorstep, and paired with the academic culture it leaves us with an abundance of the most perfect study spaces. Venture out from the trenches of studying at your bedroom desk and explore the beautiful places on offer. From faculty libraries to cute cafés to bookstores, try having a change of scenery and watch your productivity levels soar.

“You can catch up, talk about your days and even force your parents to put your dog on the camera”

2. Schedule time to check-in at home

It’s easy to get caught up in the fast pace of the term, and before you know it, you have 20 unread messages and five missed calls from home. The joys of modern technology mean they’re only a click of a button away. Communicate with your friends and family by scheduling a date to call or chat, even if it means blocking out some time in your diary when you’re both free. You can catch up, talk about your days and even force your parents to put your dog on the camera (speaking from personal experience). If you’re feeling old-fashioned, use one of the iconic red phone boxes and feel inspired that it was created by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who worked on the UL.

3. Bring back pen pals!

This might seem counter-intuitive, specifically when tip number two was to ring family when you can, but stay with me here. Writing letters to the people you love at home is definitely more heartfelt, and it can be a nice surprise for someone to open your letter and know that you’ve gone to more of an effort to contact them. You can even make postcards from all the lovely photos you’ve taken throughout the term. Not to mention, when you get a reply, the feeling of seeing a handwritten letter in your pigeon hole is an immediate serotonin boost.

“Maybe it’s too cringey to say that home is where the heart is, but it really is true”

4. Eat in hall when you can

If you normally spend a lot of time eating with your family, it might feel a bit lonely eating yet another bowl of pesto pasta in your room alone. Instead, take your friends to eat in the hall or even explore other colleges’ cafeterias. Having a hearty meal and sitting round the table will make you feel like you’re back at home in no time. As an added bonus, you might even avoid the food bin that’s been piling up on the counter over the week. A win is a win, am I right?

5. Give your room a makeover

Transforming your room definitely doesn’t need to be drastic or complicated. Swap out your bed sheets or even treat yourself to some new ones. Honestly, I could feel myself get happier when I put my new sheets on my bed at the start of term. Updating your pin board every so often can never hurt either and it’s easy to swap photos around to maximise all the memories you can reminisce over. Even better, pin up the letters or postcards that you now get because of your new-found pen pal!

Maybe it’s too cringey to say that home is where the heart is, but it really is true. Just because you love your hometown, it doesn’t mean that you can’t also split your heart between Cambridge too. Even trying a few of these tips can help you feel more settled and grounded, which will help you to make the most of your time in this gorgeous city (which I think is a win-win). Remember, when things get tough, the people you miss at home are never more than a call away.