5 tips for staying in touch with extended family

Our relationships with family members near and far can enrich our lives. Staying in touch is important because our family can offer a sense of belonging and is often turned to for support. But when life gets busy, or time and distance feel daunting, those bonds can be challenging to maintain. So consider these strategies to get you inspired.

• Schedule a virtual coffee meet-up. Use FaceTime or video conferencing to (almost) get together.
• Send a greeting card out of the blue. No occasion is needed; everybody loves receiving happy snail mail.
• Plan a reunion. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be as simple as a day at the beach or a picnic in a park.
• Start a Facebook group and invite everyone to share photos and updates on their latest news.