Last week, I talked about making your house better, and making your home online, but what about the other times? Maybe you’re travelling a lot, or just feeling homesick in general. I get that. I get that a lot. I’ve moved a few times to places where I knew nobody, and taken some long haul travel solo to places that made me very uncomfortable. It can be hard. Here’s how I bring the security and warmth of home to unfamiliar places.

Food.

Sometimes when I’m feeling far from my friends or family, I cook foods that remind me of them. Working through my mom’s pie crust recipe, or my best friend’s stir-fried veggies helps ease that feeling.

Candles.

Scent is one of the largest memory markers. I burn the scents that I burned at our first apartment here, and they were candles I burned at college. It’s a scent that brings me comfort and familiarity, and makes me feel at home.

Photos.

I keep pictures and objects that remind me of my family nearby. I wear a pair of earrings that were my grandma’s, and then my mom gave them to me. It makes me feel closer to them, even in strange, uncomfortable places. I keep photos of my friends and family on my phone, of us doing fun things. Good memories make me feel better, not worse, and bring a certain warmth.

A Comfort Object.

When I travel, I bring a few things that anchor me. I have a pair of earrings that remind me of home, and I also have a few little mementos that I travel with that don’t take up much space or weight, but bring me physical comfort.

I hope that this helps you, especially as we move into the holidays. I know that sometimes we aren’t able to be with our family over the holidays, and I hope these things can help you with that if you’re feeling far away.