๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐จ๐บ๐ฌ๐ช๐บ๐ธEX-PAT CAREER MOM, what are your ways to create connection during the holidays?
๐ซ What Iโve heard in todayโs conversation with #expats is that ๐ซ#loneliness may come to a rise during Advent (a part of #Christmas festivities) in late November and December.
We all feel a need to ๐คCONNECT, to #BELONG especially during holidays. Even most successful career moms.
At this time of the year, your family, colleagues, and friends are looking for a human-to-human connection.
๐คฉ Here are my top 4 life hacks to get #connected: ๐คฉ
โ 1. Be proactive and talk to your family
members from your home country over any of Skype, Whatsup, Facebook, Zoom or Telegram.
Youโd be surprised how much your parentsโ/family members would value 15-30 minutes with you.
๐ #Fun ideas ๐:
๐ use an electronic spinner for things youโre g
rateful for during this year and play them over your online coffee chat.
๐ค during a year write down one thing youโre grateful for in a week and put it all in a jar to read on Christmas at your family gathering.
โ 2. Take some time to #selfreflect on what does it mean for you to belong.
Choose ONE #journalprompt to write down for 10 minutes
๐งก What inspirational group for you do you want to belong?
๐ Where do you spend time your time with a deep appreciation to a group?
๐ What connection are you seeking? How oft
en?
โค๏ธ Write a story about a character who desperately wants to belong.
๐ Which cultural group celebration is your favorite?
๐ How did you become a part of the different cultures you are involved in?
โ 3. Give and RECEIVE.
This is a great opportunity to send a nice old-style card or an electronic card to people you love.
More options:
a handwritten letter or a thank you note
for Catholics โ offer your neighbor an advent calendar with tea bags for every day before Christmas
send a Christmas card to a future you/your kid
/your hubby
free hour of babysitting to an ex-pat mom in need
As caregivers, we tend to provide care, and this is a great time for us to RECEIVE: some help with your meals, or presents wrap, or asking for 10 minutes to yourself.
โ 4. Declutter
๐ Your purse
The subscriptions that you no longer use
Your closet
Your wallet
Your fridge
When you clear a space, there will be room for a new connection.
With yourself
With another person
With a new idea
With a group.
My favorite book about decluttering is
๐ The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. ๐ What is yours?
๐คฉ If you'd like to have a conversation about where you're now with an ex-pat life and career coach, I'm here for you, let's have a no pressure talk.