10 Quick Ways to Stay in Touch in a Rush

March 11th, 2011 Balance Family, Work, Self Goals & Time Management

stop-watch You are busy, rushed & maybe struggling to keeping on top of your game. There’s work and kid’s homework, after school activities, dinner, laundry, mopping…You get the picture. On top of it all, there’s that nagging at the back of your mind…the phone calls you are supposed to return to the friends who have left you messages. The weeks, months and years going by without a coffee or a lunch but always good intentions to do so.

There are way to let your friends and family know that you are living, breathing and thinking of them even when you are short on time. Here are 10:

Try using facebook for quick status updates. As long as you aren’t getting sucked into the time-consuming games, you can get a quick look at what your friends & family are up to. With little effort, you can let them know what you are up to with a daily or weekly status update. I recently taught a class where a participant said her family turned to facebook to stay in touch after their grandma died as she was the one who kept everyone in the loop.

Use your headset to catch up with conversation in the car when you are by yourself.

Keep blank note cards & stamps on hand to jot down a quick “hello” and drop them in the mail on your way to work.

Keep cards on hand for all occasions so you are ready at all times for birthdays, anniversaries and expressing sympathy.

Create a Word document and type an email message. Cut and paste your message into individual emails with your recipients’ names so it won’t look like a mass email.

Leave a “thinking of you” voicemail at a time when you know someone won’t be able to take a call.

Combine activities: Talk on the phone during mindless tasks like folding laundry or go for a walk with a friend to get exercise & catch up.

Let people know how much time you have at the beginning of a conversation.

Leave a note on the counter, pillow or in a lunch sack.

Have easy-to-mail, generic gift cards to drop in the mail for special occasions or for just “thinking of you” times. Great options are Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks. Be sure to make a note in your planner 3 days prior to the special occasion to remember to mail it.

Try one, two or all 10 of these ideas to help you manage your time and stay in touch with the people you care about!

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