Whether you’re spending the holiday season with your friends and family or celebrating many kilometers apart, feeling truly connected can be a challenge. LIKO is taking a look at things that make a house a home and how each one can add to your seasonal celebration.
Here are several ways to connect with your loved ones this holiday season.
1. Choose a stress free destination
We may not want to admit it to our family members but we may do so to our friends. Hosting family can be inconvenient or cumbersome especially when we feel the pressure of impressing that particular in-law whom you know has high expectations of you. Hosting while trying to have fun can be a nightmare for some. There are holiday destinations that accommodate families, cook for them and allow them to enjoy a stress free time together in one place while offering the privacy they require. Check out Cove Tree Diani
2. Get creative with video hangouts by playing video games or watching a movie
Sometimes just catching up with faraway friends and family via video chat isn’t enough—what if you want to share new experiences, create new memories? Nowadays, video chat is a pretty versatile tool. Play an online video game with your friends and keep the video screen open so you can see their reactions. Or, press play on a streaming version of your favorite holiday movie while your grandparents pop in their old VHS copy at the same time.
3. Make a virtual date
Plan and send out an invite. Schedule a virtual family reunion and use a tool like a calendar to help your loved ones save the date. Video chatting is easy – and free. Services like Skype, FaceTime and Whatsapp allow you to talk to more than one person at the same time. Bonus: you can finally turn down the volume on the uncle who shouts during every conversation.
4. Give the gift of shared activities
While everyone may not be able to do the same thing in the same place, find an activity the whole family can enjoy together in the future and get it in the books. It can be something as elaborate as a shared vacation or cruise, making the same treasured family recipe or create some DIY holiday decorations. Or, if you can’t arrange to see each other, take calligraphy lessons and send each other beautiful letters. No matter what you choose, an active gift will not only help you connect, but will keep you feeling connected in the future.
5. Share special moments with a private photo-sharing App
If you want to share holiday highlights with your family without plastering them all over social media, try out one of the many private photo-sharing apps, like Momentgarden, EFAMILY, or 23snaps.
6. Record a message – or a conversation
SpareMin is an app that makes it easy to create and share audio recordings. Grab a family member and host your own podcast with a topic like “Family Update” or “2017 Year in Review.”
7. Online family photo album
Sites like Shutterfly and Snapfish make it easy to create online albums. Upload some family holiday pics from years past or start fresh with this year’s batch and invite relatives to contribute.
8. Volunteer together
Give back to the community together as a family this holiday season by participating in a holiday food drive, hosting a party for the community, or volunteering at a shelter or hospice. Look up volunteer opportunities in your community, or see if your favorite charity is looking for help—there are plenty of ways to help others, and grow closer as a family at the same time.
What would be great news to share with your family? Buying a new home! A LIKO agent can help make it a reality. Find an experienced one to work with here.
Mark
on said
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.