We may not all be back to our pre-COVID socializing circles yet, but this pandemic has definitely taught us the importance of maintaining and constantly improving upon our close relationships. Whether building new relationships or strengthening old ones, there are many reasons to make sure we have close relationships in our busy lives.
The past year and a half has taught us that unless we’re bound by strong bonds, holding our own in face of adversities can become an uphill battle. Although many of us are growing accustomed to working from home and the new-normal of socializing, the research is clear that staying connected with other like-minded people is vital for our mental health.
Why Are Close Relationships Important?
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Although we often think we don’t have time for new relationships because of our busy schedules, what with trying to balance our personal and professional responsibilities, making time and investing effort in strengthening our relationships can actually help us live longer.
Socializing and maintaining relationships is not just a way of sustenance but is also proven to have myriad health benefits. For instance, we feel happy and rejuvenated after meeting friends because social interactions are great stress busters. Besides, there is an undeniable feel-good factor in caring for others, and this act of giving also proves to be good for our mental health and overall well-being.
How To Maintain Close Relationships?
Staying connected takes time and energy, and depending on who you are connecting with, this can, at times, seem more like hard work than a leisurely activity. However, when you factor in the myriad benefits of social interactions – they can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, for instance – these are certainly worth the effort.
So even when you feel too tired or too occupied, give yourself that little nudge to talk to your mother, meet a friend for coffee or plan a date night with your significant other. Here are some tips to help you get started so that socializing doesn’t feel like a chore:
1. Use technology
To make connecting with your loved ones a little easier, put technology to good use. Whether you are planning a themed night in or a big Zoom bash, virtual communication can help you create nights at home that are fun and entertaining. This will save you the hassle of having to cater to a big group of people while still being able to be a top hostess, as you bring together your friends.
Technology has made bringing together your closest friends, even if they live across the world, incredibly simple and almost as good as being in the same room. The explosion of options is additionally fueling the trend for online parties, and companies are investing like never before in cutting-edge tech solutions to make these virtual interactions even more seamless and engaging. Some tech companies have seen significant growth in revenue over the past year, and this bodes well for users, who then benefit from reinvestment by the company to make their tech solutions even better.
2. Keep it simple
Not every social interaction with your friends, family or loved ones has to entail elaborate meals or hours-long conversations. You can keep it simple with calls and texts. Although using online communication platforms allows for real-time and in-person connections, sometimes the simple options are also the best.
This is particularly helpful when connecting with older friends or family who may not be comfortable on video platforms or may not have the tech to support those platforms. Sending a simple text or even a quick call regularly and with genuine interest goes a long way to keeping those connections close and strong.
3. Personalized Gifts
Personalized gifts are always a welcome display of affection. Whether these are lavish and expensive gestures or simple handmade tokens, they go a long way in ensuring that relationships are grounded in love. And remember, giving a gift will always make you feel better than receiving one.
We all need relationships to thrive. The best way to ensure that you have the right relationships in your life is to make the effort to strengthen and nurture existing bonds. We hope these tips help you in the pursuit of improving your close relationships and result in a happier, healthier you.
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