Life today is busy, especially for working moms. You’re spending more time connecting through electronic devices than in person. The time you do have with someone in person is fleeting and task-oriented (i.e. Did you remember to buy the milk? Great. Thanks. Gotta run!). I hate to admit that I’ve had my fair share of arguments with my husband over IM or texting – pathetic, but true.
Despite this, you can develop meaningful connections with people around you, and it doesn’t take too much time. Here’s how:
- Spend 10 minutes each day talking with someone in person, not over IM, text messaging, FaceBook or Twitter. You might drop into a co-worker’s office or meet a friend for a quick coffee break.
- Talk about more than work or your kids. Everyone knows you work and you have kids. But you’re more than a mom who works. What else is going on in your life?
- Do more listening than talking. Sure, you have a lot of dirty laundry to air out, but imagine the gift you give when you button your lip long enough to let the other person know they matter.
- Ask for help. It’s good practice to ask for help when you need it. At the very least you’ll gain some valuable feedback or insight to your situation.
- Give without the intent to receive. Offer to do a favor with no strings attached. It’s good karma, and it feels good.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree, reaching out to connect and help others… even in small ways..have such a far reaching effect in ways we can never guess. It will always come back to us in amazing and positive ways
I love the bullet about talk about more than work or your kids — it’s also a way to remind yourself how big the world really is, and gain perspective!
One thing I struggle with a lot, though, is information overload, So many Web sites, news blips, tweets, etc. Sometimes I think my head will explode.
Advice on that?
Hi Bridget – I go through information overload too. Plus, with so many social media outlets these days, it’s so easy to get lost in it all. I’m a speed reader and skim a lot of material. If there is something that’s particularly interesting, I’ll save it to a file folder or write an entry about it in one of my journals. As a writer, those are the methods I use to keep track of info I might need for future writing assignments too. Hope that helps a bit.
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