7 EASY WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AT CHRISTMAS (updated 15th December 2020

Are you looking for easy ways to connect with other people at Christmas?  

Feeling connected is important for your mental health, with strong links between loneliness and depression; social connectedness and feeling happier.  But where do you start?  Changing your mindset around loneliness is an important part of feeling more connected, but gift giving provides you with a unique opportunity to reach out to others in a practical and tangible way.  
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It's wonderful to be able to choose gifts that reduce Christmas stress, but here's one way you can look beyond traditional gift giving and strengthen your connections.  

Begin by finding a moment of quiet and think about people you have interacted with this year.  It may be neighbours, family, friends, work mates, members of sporting groups, people you know through school, people you regularly buy groceries or other retail products from,, parents of your children’s friends, online connections etc.
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1. Choose 7 people and focus on what is special about them.  In what little, or big, ways they have been a part of your life this year.  Jot down some of their qualities, interests, anything you know about them.  It’s OK if it’s not much.  The fact they have been a part of your life is what is important.  They may not even realise you would think about them!  It's also OK if you don't have 7, you can do this for 1 person.
2. Choose something to do for them.  This may be making them a card, sending them a shout out thank you on social media, making them a gingerbread person or including them in a loving kindness meditation or prayer.
3. Give them the gift/card in person or mail it/leave it in their letter box.
4. Do this without any expectations of receiving anything in return.  This is you acknowledging and thanking them for whatever role they have played in your life.  It may be, for whatever reason, you want to do this anonymously.  And of course, if you choose to include them in a loving kindness meditation or pray for them they aren't going to know about it. 
5. Encourage your children/child to do this for someone in their life (they can choose more than one if they wish).
6. Practice random acts of connectedness: for example, hold open a door for someone, say hello to a stranger, smile at the people serving you in the shops.
7. If you are on Facebook or Instagram, stop scrolling and leave a positive comment.

Have you tried some of these?  How did you go? Do you have any other tips to share?  ​You can get in touch by sending me a direct email, or fill out the contact form below.

If you want to listen to more about creating connections, you may enjoy listening to my podcast - Creating Connections.


Until next time, take care of yourself

Kim 

ps If you'd like to receive tips and strategies about increasing calm, confidence and connection all year round, you are warmly invited to join the Positive Young Minds community and have them delivered direct to your inbox.

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