Staying in Touch for the New Year

adminAnxiety, Depression, Relationships

If you haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions, but would like to improve your general health and well being then consider the simple act of staying in touch with friends or family as a worthy goal this 2016.

Staying in touch with friends and family is beneficial on so many levels. Connecting with close friends or family members releases the same feel good hormones that you experience when working out, eating chocolate or having sex provide. It gets us out of our routine and into new experiences which prevents boredom and finally social connection can help prevent depression and anxiety.

As you can see it’s good medicine to stay connected to those who provide support and friendship but in today’s busy world it can be difficult to maintain these healthy relationships so what can you do to make this the year you stay connected?

  1. Social Media – Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Pinterest to stay connected with friends and family. Share your ideas, photos and even meet up virtually to stay in touch when you’re far away or can’t make the time to meet face to face.
  2. Call Regularly – Make an effort to connect over the phone, or even via text message or Skype if those methods work better, weekly or monthly. Back in the days when long distance was outrageously expensive my grandparents would call every Sunday evening to stay in touch. We didn’t plan anything during those calls because they were so special. Long distance isn’t a thing anymore but it’s still worth it to make a concerted effort to connect regularly.
  3. Let’s Do Lunch – If you’re geographically close, schedule a regular lunch or happy hour gathering. Even an hour or two each month is enough time to reconnect and engage.
  4. Road Trip – If possible, plan a trip. Hit the road and rent a cabin for the weekend, head out to Las Vegas or book a cruise. Bring your partners or significant others to make it a vacation you’ll remember forever.

These are just some ideas for staying in touch with friends and family. There is no wrong way so use whatever method works best for you and your bestie. The important thing is be connected.