The Sweet Spot- The Art of Checking In
by: Ashia Sims
The holiday season can definitely put you into people overload. Not only are there lots of holiday events and parties, but those outings often mean spending lots of time being festive with family and friends that you may not see very often throughout the rest of the year.
However, you shouldn’t wait until the end of the year and dive headfirst into a bevy of family and friend oriented activities. You should make it a habit to reach out to these people even when there’s no promise of a big meal or gifts.
You don’t have to schedule long visits or lengthy phone calls to reach out. Checking in is a great way to maintain some relationships and let people know that you care. Plus in this electronic age of texting, email, facebook and twitter, you can check in with people in multiple ways. If you’re checking in with someone who isn’t technically inclined or doesn’t have time to participate in social media, a quick phone call works just as well. Don’t feel like you have to commit to a long conversation but be up front about it when you call. Here’s a sample script if you’re worried you’ll feel compelled to chat for a long time:
“Hi, Grandma (example person), I was just thinking about you and I wanted to take a quick moment to call and say hi. I can’t talk for long, but I wanted to see how you were doing.”
Then stick to your guns. You don’t want the check in to turn into a moment for resentment on your end, but it’s a wonderful practice to implement. I also suggest that you make it a point to set aside time for longer phone calls as well, especially if you’re checking in with a chatty person.
This way when the holidays come back around, you have a warm rapport developed and you won’t have to spend a lot of time catching up. You can just enjoy the holiday gathering.
Ashia Sims, is a writer, producer and Executive Producer for Friday Girl TV. She enjoys business, traveling and teaching women about fashion on her blog, www.cluelessfashionista.com
