There are many perks to taking your career on the road: you get to experience new places, build your resume, earn extra cash, all while checking off bucket list items.
However, it is not always easy being away from home. Staying connected and maintaining relationships with family and friends can be challenging when life on the road gets busy.
Read below for 10 tips to keep your relationships strong and healthy.
- Be proactive.
Schedule times to connect with your family and friends and try your very best not to cancel. As we all know, LIFE HAPPENS and times get busy – but more than likely, canceling just this once could turn into not touching base for weeks or months! - Take advantage of technology.
Using Skype or FaceTime is the next best thing to being right there in person. Phone calls are great, but taking time to see each other face to face is important. If your family is having a birthday party or get together, FaceTime them during the party and have people pass you around! - Don’t wait for something big to happen.
It’s important to fill everyone in on the big things happening in life, but it can be just as important to talk about little things; even if you call to tell them you remembered a funny memory! - Watch movies or TV shows simultaneously.
Whether it’s texting your sister or best friend while watching the Bachelor or Skyping while watching a movie, make it a priority to involve yourself in daily activities. - Start a blog.
Writing about everything that is happening in your life is an efficient and creative way to keep everyone in the loop of what you’re experiencing. Even better, post pictures with your story to give them a visual. - Read a book together.
Pick a book to read with family or friends to help you continue to learn and grow together. Pick a book and a deadline, then FaceTime to talk about your favorite parts or what you took away from it. - Play online games together.
Playing a game like Words With Friends or Heads Up via Skype is the perfect way to keep things light and fun when you’re missing home. It also fires up a little healthy competition and some good ol’ fashioned smack talk! - Sign up for seat sale alerts.
Flying home is not always cheap! Sign up for seat sale alerts on Travelocity, Orbitz and Hotwire to keep you in the loop on great sales! - Put your family in your calendar.
Enter important birthdays, anniversaries and milestones in your calendar so you don’t forget to call! Better yet, send them a gift! If you’re in a crunch, sending Amazon or Starbucks gift cards via email will do the trick. - Keep the communication open and real.
Don’t feel like you always need to put on a smile if you’re having a bad day. Part of being a friend or family member is sharing in tough times too. Even if you’re angry or frustrated with THEM! Make sure you communicate openly to maintain a strong foundation.
At Aureus, we understand that it’s not always easy leaving your comfort zone. Thank you for all you do and sacrifice to get the job done and change lives every day!
Emily Thomas is an Account Manager with the Nursing division of Aureus Medical Group.