7 EASY WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AT CHRISTMAS

Are you looking for easy ways to connect with other people at Christmas?  Sure there is giving gifts, but what about looking beyond traditional gift giving?

Feeling connected is important for your mental health.  There are links between loneliness and depression; social connectedness and feeling happier.  

But where do you start?  Working on how you view social situations to reduce your feelings of loneliness is very important, but here are 7 easy and practical strategies you can do to reach out to others.

Find 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 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 one, or more 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?  ​

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Looking to learn some more connection strategies?  You can contact us through email or message.  We offer web based consultancy, wherever you live.  You can also join Creating Christmas Calm facebook group.