In recent years, 59% of adults have left the nest for other cities. It can be difficult to leave behind close family members, but for some people it just can’t be avoided. How can technology keep us closer than ever to family members who couldn’t be further away?
Shower Them with Gifts
ThriftyCrates understands the importance of value — in terms of your time and money. Why spend hours and hours browsing at a crowded mall when there are so many online gift shopping options? Find the perfect combination of gifts for the people in your family who are normally hard to buy for. Amazon Prime is another quick and easy way to keep everyone entertained and properly supplied.
Get Some Face-to-Face Time
There are so many incredible apps out there that allow families to connect across the miles. If you’re an iPhone user, FaceTime is a great way to connect with the other iPhone users in your family. Androids offer a similar setup with Google Hangouts. There are also plenty of apps that work for both smartphones and, in some cases, even laptops: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype to name a few. All of these provide both video and chat options. Most even allow a group video chat if there are family members in a few different locations.
Once you run out of things to say, why not use the camera to watch a favorite show together? Perhaps an old school game show like Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune. Or maybe it’s a drama series that started while you were living at home and is still thriving now. Video chat provides a simple way to continue beloved family traditions, even when certain members have moved away.
Group Chats
If you’re looking for a quicker form of communication, even something as simple as a group chat with everyone is enough to bring a smile to your face. Most video apps also offer a chat option, great for those of us who are always on the go. Just be sure to keep your phone in good shape! It would be a shame if you were to miss Mom’s update about the new smoothie recipe she just tried! Or maybe Johnny finally saved up enough money for that new laptop he’s been eyeing! This is a fun and easy way to keep in touch every day with little time commitment.
While moving away from home can build independence and satisfy a need for adventure, it can be difficult leaving our beloved family members behind. Luckily, technology makes it easier for us to keep in touch when the people we love are miles and miles away.
