Staying close to your loved ones is all about how well you can connect with them, on an emotional plane. The key to a healthy relationship is communication, and if you can work that out, then there is nothing to worry about. So, if you’ve got that golden opportunity to work or study abroad, don't ruin it by worrying about staying away from your dear ones.
Instead, you need to focus on how best you can stay emotionally connected to your family and friends, without letting distance hamper your relationship with them. To help you in your quest, we are listing down some of the teeny weenie things that you can do while you are working at a distant land, away from home.
1. Unleash the Power of Social Network
While you are away from home, time zones are going to change and communication is likely to decline. So, make it a point to keep in touch with your loved ones in more than one way. The easiest way to do that is by sharing your experiences in the form of posts, videos, and pictures. Also, sharing this and receiving feedback is going to help you get through the feeling of being homesick, during the initial phase of your relocation.
2. Use the Right Messaging App
Imagine waking up to find some interesting videos and photographs, of your family. The feeling is indeed exciting and something that is sure to make you smile. When you move into a new country, things are going to change and unless you have all your contacts on one messenger, it can get quite frustrating. In the UK, WhatsApp and Telegram is quite popular, so make sure that your family members are on it. Also, consider creating messaging groups to converse with all your dear ones, simultaneously.
3. Stick to Video Calling
There are some things that money can’t buy, like seeing you young one crawl or watch your 8-year old bake a cake all by herself, for the very first time. You can always watch this live on a video call, or have someone record it and send it over to you. Seeing is definitely going to provide your senses with more satisfaction than when you hear.
4. Send Gifts on Special Days
Imagine your beloved’s face brighten up, when she receives a gift, along with a note from you. This is the least you can do for those you care about, and a small gesture goes a long way especially when you are in a far off land. Don’t worry, you don’t have to send an extravagant gift, but try to send something that has a certain amount of emotional value attached to it. You can always buy something on Amazon or eBay by using the relevant domain extension. So make sure to have advance birthday and anniversary reminders set in your phone’s calendar, and don’t hit the snooze button when that pops up.
5. Schedule a Family Dinner Every Weekend
When you are busy chasing your dreams and exploring better career prospects, then you are definitely going to spend your weekends, networking. So, Friday nights and probably even Saturdays are going to be reserved for this and other chores.
However, in London, Sundays are quite different as most Londoners prefer to spend a quiet and relaxed Sunday with their families. So while you are in London, do what the Londoners do. The most convenient way to spend quality time with your family on a Sunday is by having at least one meal together, as a family. You can use the power of video calling to connect with your loved ones while you eat together, after all, a family that eats together, stays together.
6. Start a Blog or Vlog
If the popular soap ‘Dog with a Blog’ hasn’t really inspired you to start one, then distance definitely should. After all, it’s so much easier to connect, express and even vent out from behind the monitor of your laptop. However, if you don’t mind sharing your videos, then you may as well consider starting your very own Vlog. For all you know, it could go viral and also earn you some fame and money.
7. Send Home Some Money
Most people choose to pursue an overseas career in the hope of better living standards and higher income. After all, the lucrative exchange rates are the very reason why strong economies like the UK attract a higher number of immigrants.
So while you are leading a better life than you otherwise would, consider sharing your good fortune with the ones you care about. No matter how undemanding your family is, consider sending at least a small amount every month, to those you care about. At Small World, we completely understand your feelings and so we extend our support by offering real-time exchange rates and low transaction fee.
8. Gift a Ticket
When you work overseas, the unspoken desire of your loved ones is to be able to see you and spend time with you. However, this isn’t always possible due to the ridiculously high airfare, especially when you work or study in a developed economy like London. So be generous, and try to cut corners and send air tickets to your parents and show them around. If you are worried about a low-budget, then here are some tips to help you organize cheap holidays for your loved ones.
Home is where your loved ones are, so no matter where you decide to pursue a career, make it a point to nurture your relationship with those back at home. The abovementioned are some effective ways to ensure that a communication gap does not ruin your personal life. After all, as long as there is affection and warmth, you can always find ways to work your way through the adversities that come with distances.
