Keeping Connections in the Messy Middle

Are you like me?  Connections are so important to me: my family, my friends and my colleagues.  I need these relationships to stay balanced, fulfilled and inspired.  Isolation makes me depressed, tired and withdrawn.  I consider my connections a crucial part of my mental health.

Now that I’m in the Messy Middle and juggling the sandwich generation responsibilities, I find it harder to keep up with my friends and colleagues.  The push and pull of caretaking parents and children can leave little time for social plans.

Despite this, I would argue that, at least for me, this is the time I need those social connections most. Between stress and busyness, taking time to meet a friend, see a colleague, and keep those connections can make all the difference.

But how do we do it amidst the chaos?  I haven’t mastered this, but here are so techniques I am leveraging:

• Utilize calendaring: Just like a doctor’s appointment or a car repair, if we schedule this time to connect with friends, we are more likely to keep it. 

  
  

• Prioritize: Like that doctor's appointment, make this a priority for your mental health. It will relieve stress, fill our cups, and give us renewed energy to keep on caring.

  
  

• Utilize technology: I use Marco Polo, a video app that lets me have conversations with my favorite people without needing to block off time. It’s free, fun, and easy. Some use Snapchat, texting, and WhatsApp…. Use whatever works for you. This is an easy way to stay connected, even if you can’t leave the house.

  
  

• Combine activities: Walk with a friend, take a yoga class with a cousin, or work at a coffee shop with a colleague.  Finding ways to combine the things you need to accomplish with quality time with those you care about can be a win-win.

  
  

• Make your home the place out: I have started inviting people over for a cup of coffee or an afternoon drink.  This keeps it casual, and I don’t have to prep a fancy meal or clean the house from top to bottom.  It lets me have a relaxing connection without the stress or time constraint.

I am committed to finding new ways to stay connected with my community during this time.  It’s so important for my health, my balance, and my sanity.  It keeps me grounded, brightens my outlook, and renews my energy.

How do you keep connections during the messy middle?  I’d love to hear!