The bustles and hustles of modern life can make it harder to see your loved ones as often as you would like. Fortunately, advanced technology can help bridge that gap. According to Pew Research, about 67% of people use social media platforms to stay connected with family and friends. In addition to social media, it helps to meet in-person once in a while to keep family feeling connected.
5 ways to keep your family feeling connected to one another
Here are some fantastic ways to keep the family connected.
Pick Up the Phone
Despite all the communication platforms we have today, picking up the phone is still one of the most reliable ways of getting in touch. For one, it is straightforward to use, making it an ideal tool for reaching grandparents. Secondly, there is direct feedback. With phone calls, you don’t have to worry about the recipients not seeing your message. Make it a habit to call at least once a day for very close family members. This includes your parents or children if you live apart. Tell them about your day and find out about theirs.
Video Calls
Video calls are the next best thing when you can physically be with your loved ones. It offers the directness of a phone with the bonus of seeing the other person. Every social media application has video call functionality these days, including Google Hangouts, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can use applications specifically designed for video chats, such as Skype and FaceTime.
You can take a step further and even play a game together. It could be an online card game or something as simple as karaoke. There is no limit to the fun you can have using video chats.
Host Family Dinners
It may not be possible to see everyone during the week due to busy and conflicting schedules. However, weekends are usually much more relaxed. You can take the chance and host a
Sunday dinner. Nothing brings people together like delicious food and a hot conversation. Sunday is perfect because it allows everyone to take care of other weekend plans on Saturday.
A successful family dinner requires a lot of planning to pull off. Let everyone know in advance to avoid any scheduling conflicts. You can ask everyone to bring something to lessen the burden of having to cook everything. Sunday dinners are a great way to get everyone together and catch up.
Organize Family Reunions
Due to the large number of people involved, family reunions are a little harder to plan. The sad truth is that most families rarely get together unless there is a death in the family or a wedding. The best time to organize a family reunion? During the holidays when everyone is off work, and the schools are closed. Christmas and Thanksgiving are prime examples.
The first step is letting everyone know in advance, so they keep the day open. You can call each person one by one, set up a WhatsApp group, or use a mass texting service to get the word out. Make sure there is a blend of fun activities for both the kids and the grown-ups. It could be the beginning of a beautiful family tradition.
Set up a Family Blog
Setting up a family website can seem like a lot of work, but it can be gratifying. For this to work, someone will have to take up the responsibility of creating one. There are different platforms where you can do this for free. You can have each family member post something every week until the year ends.
Each post should be about their lives and some great photos or videos to go with it. This way, everyone can stay current on the events in each other’s lives. In this way, the blog will be like a family notebook everyone can access. You can also use the platform to announce and invite people to family events.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, the amazing ways discussed help you to stay connected to your loved ones. We all get lost in the daily struggles that we forget to get in touch with other family members. A day turns into a week, and before you know it, months have gone by. Every family is different, so use the method that works for you and your family. Please don’t put it off; get in touch today.
About the Writer: Samantha Higgins is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.
