Heading home for the holidays
The festive season has a way of arriving loudly. For some people it is a highlight of the year. For others it is something to simply get through. And for many across the international education world, it lands at a moment when our lives, roles and routines are already in motion across different countries and cultures.
This blog is for all of us. Students, faculty, programme staff, administrators, on-site teams. We are talking openly about mental health at this time of year. Pressure, family dynamics, loneliness and that strange feeling of going from one world to another can affect anyone, no matter our role or experience.
Pressure
The holiday period often carries a script. Be joyful. Be relaxed. Be grateful. Be everything all at once. And with social media adding its own sparkle filter, it is no surprise that many of us feel a quiet pressure to have the perfect end to the year.
But struggling with our wellbeing does not take time off for the holidays. Feeling overwhelmed, stressed or out of sync is not a sign that you are doing anything wrong. It simply means you are human. And humans can find this season a lot.
So perhaps this year we loosen the grip on the idea of a perfect holiday. You do not have to feel festive. You do not have to enjoy every moment. Being present is enough. Resting is enough. Showing up for yourself is more than enough.
In that softer space, you might find small, genuine moments of comfort. They do not need to be spectacular. They just need to be real.
Family Time
Returning home or spending extended time with loved ones can be comforting for some and challenging for others. Even as adults, it is surprisingly easy to slip back into old dynamics or feel triggered by things we thought we had outgrown.
If this is you, your feelings are valid.
And you are not the only one.
Take time for yourself where you can. A quiet walk, a coffee outside, a break from the crowd or simply sitting in a room with the door closed can make a big difference. Use this moment to recognise everything you have carried and accomplished this year.
Whether you have supported students through cultural transitions, moved abroad yourself, managed a heavy workload, or simply kept going through tough days, that is something worth acknowledging.
Whatever your role, you have navigated a year that required resilience and adaptability. And you are still here.
Getting Settled: Shifting Between Worlds
Many people across our sector live, work or study away from their home country. Moving between places, even temporarily, can bring up complex feelings. You might know this as reverse culture shock, or simply as that unsettled feeling when your two lives do not quite match up.
This can look like:
Loss
Perhaps you had a rhythm, a team, a community or a routine in your host country. Returning home can feel like stepping out of one identity and into another. Keeping small parts of your routine can help bridge the gap.
A shift in self or relationships
People might say you seem different. And while that can feel uncomfortable, change usually means growth. It is okay to take up new space.
Boredom
If your work or study environment abroad felt full of movement and learning, coming home might feel slow or predictable. You can still bring your broadened perspective into familiar settings.
Isolation
Friends or family may not fully understand your experiences abroad. This can feel lonely. You can share your stories in a way that helps them relate, but you do not owe anyone a perfect explanation.
Moving between cultures does not erase who you have become. The holiday period is naturally slower and quieter, which gives you time to reconnect with yourself and integrate your experiences.
Loneliness
Despite all the imagery about togetherness, many people feel lonely over the holidays. Students who cannot travel, staff who are away from home, faculty living abroad, or anyone experiencing distance from their usual support systems may find this time difficult.
If loneliness is showing up for you, reach out. That might be a colleague, a friend, a community you trust, or someone who understands what you’re going through.
If you prefer to spend the season on your own, that is completely valid too.
As Leanne, mindhamok’s clinical lead tells us…
“Christmas looks and feels different for every single person. For some it is family and noise and excitement, for others it is quiet, gentle and a chance to rest. There is no right way to do it. Sometimes the most protective thing you can do is to give yourself permission to step back from expectations and choose what actually helps you feel safe and steady. For me that means simple self-care. I will be having slow evenings, warm baths, soft light and early nights and that will be perfect.”
Whatever your situation, you do not need to handle everything alone. At mindhamok, we have a network of trained professionals who understand the realities of studying and working across borders, and we are here if you need support.
To anyone who is feeling anxious about going home, or not going home, or simply facing the end of the year, you are not alone. This period can stir a whole mix of feelings. And even in the messier moments, you will find resilience in yourself. You already have.
So have the holiday that feels right for you. Merry, average, fine, complicated, quiet, joyful, or something else entirely. It is only one day. And you are only human.
And if the big holiday hype is not for you, honestly, who gives a flying fruitcake?
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