How to Schedule Regular Check-Ins with Friends and Family

Life gets busy.

We’re juggling work, hobbies, personal commitments, and countless other demands on our time and attention. In the midst of all the chaos, it’s easy to let important relationships drift.

Before you know it, months have passed since you last had a meaningful conversation with a close friend or family member.

But maintaining strong relationships is crucial for our well-being. Studies show that strong social connections are linked to increased happiness, reduced stress, and even a longer lifespan. That's why scheduling regular check-ins with friends and family is so important.

This article will explore the benefits of regular check-ins and provide practical strategies for making them a consistent part of your life, even when things get hectic.

Why Regular Check-Ins Matter: The Benefits of Consistent Communication

In today's fast-paced world, consistent communication is the bedrock of strong relationships. Regular check-ins aren't just about exchanging pleasantries; they're about nurturing connections, fostering a sense of belonging, and providing support during both good times and bad.

Here's a closer look at the benefits of scheduling regular check-ins:

• Strengthening Bonds: Consistent communication helps to strengthen the bonds between friends and family members. By making an effort to stay in touch, you show that you care and that you value the relationship.

• Maintaining Connection: Regular check-ins help to maintain connection, even when you're physically distant. They provide an opportunity to share updates about your lives, celebrate milestones, and offer support during challenging times.

• Preventing Drift: Life changes quickly. Without regular communication, it's easy to drift apart from friends and family members. Check-ins help to prevent this by keeping you informed about each other's lives and allowing you to adapt to changing circumstances.

• Providing Support: Regular check-ins provide an opportunity to offer support to loved ones who may be struggling. Simply knowing that you're there for them can make a big difference.

• Boosting Well-Being: Strong social connections are essential for our mental and emotional well-being. Regular check-ins can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, and boost overall happiness.

• Reducing Misunderstandings: Consistent communication can help to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. By staying in touch and sharing your thoughts and feelings, you can address potential issues before they escalate.

• Creating Shared Memories: Regular check-ins provide opportunities to create shared memories that you can cherish for years to come.

Common Obstacles: Why We Don't Check-In Regularly

Despite the clear benefits, many of us struggle to schedule regular check-ins with friends and family. Here are some common obstacles that get in the way:

• Lack of Time: This is the most common excuse. We're all busy, and it can be difficult to find the time for regular check-ins.

• Forgetfulness: It's easy to forget to reach out, especially when life gets hectic.

• Feeling Overwhelmed: The thought of scheduling and maintaining regular check-ins can feel overwhelming.

• Guilt: We might avoid check-ins because we feel guilty about not having stayed in touch more regularly in the past.

• Fear of Intrusion: We might worry about intruding on someone's time or privacy.

• Lack of Structure: Without a clear plan or system, it's easy for check-ins to fall by the wayside.

• Assuming Others Are Busy: We might assume that our friends and family members are too busy to talk, so we don't bother reaching out.

Practical Strategies: How to Schedule and Maintain Regular Check-Ins

Overcoming these obstacles requires a proactive approach and a commitment to prioritising your relationships. Here are some practical strategies for scheduling and maintaining regular check-ins with friends and family:

1. Make it a Priority:

   • Recognise the Importance: Acknowledge that maintaining strong relationships is essential for your well-being.

   • Set an Intention: Make a conscious decision to prioritise regular check-ins.

   • Schedule it in Your Calendar: Treat check-ins like any other important appointment and schedule them in your calendar.

2. Choose the Right Frequency:

   • Consider the Relationship: The frequency of check-ins should depend on the nature of the relationship. You might want to check in with your closest friends and family members more frequently than with others.

   • Be Realistic: Choose a frequency that's realistic for your schedule and theirs. It's better to start with a less frequent schedule and gradually increase it if needed.

   • Discuss Expectations: Talk to your friends and family members about how often they would like to check in.

3. Choose the Right Method:

   • Phone Calls: Phone calls are a great way to have in-depth conversations and catch up on each other's lives.

   • Video Calls: Video calls allow you to see each other's faces and connect on a more personal level.

   • Text Messages: Text messages are a quick and easy way to stay in touch and send updates.

   • Emails: Emails are a good option for longer updates or for sharing photos and videos.

   • In-Person Visits: Whenever possible, schedule in-person visits to spend quality time together.

   • Social Media: While not a substitute for more personal forms of communication, social media can be a useful tool for staying in touch and sharing updates.

4. Set Reminders:

   • Use Your Calendar: Set reminders in your calendar to remind you when it's time to check in.

   • Use a Relationship Management Tool: Tools like TouchBase can help you schedule reminders and keep track of your interactions with friends and family.

   • Create a Routine: Incorporate check-ins into your daily or weekly routine.

5. Be Flexible:

   • Life Happens: Be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed.

   • Don't Beat Yourself Up: If you miss a check-in, don't beat yourself up about it. Just reschedule it for another time.

   • Communicate Openly: If you need to reschedule a check-in, communicate openly with the other person and explain why.

6. Make it Meaningful:

   • Be Present: When you're checking in with someone, be present and engaged in the conversation.

   • Ask Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions that encourage the other person to share their thoughts and feelings.

   • Listen Actively: Pay attention to what the other person is saying and respond thoughtfully.

   • Share Your Own Experiences: Share your own experiences and feelings to create a deeper connection.

   • Offer Support: Offer support and encouragement to the other person.

   • Celebrate Their Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small they may seem.

7. Use Technology to Your Advantage:

   • Scheduling Apps: Use apps like Calendly or Doodle to easily schedule check-ins with multiple people.

   • Video Conferencing Tools: Use tools like Zoom or Google Meet for video calls.

   • Relationship Management Tools: Use tools like TouchBase to organise your contacts, schedule reminders, and keep track of your interactions.

Specific Examples: Different Check-In Scenarios

Here are some specific examples of how you can schedule regular check-ins with different friends and family members:

• Parents: Schedule a weekly phone call to catch up on their lives and share updates about your own.

• Siblings: Create a group chat where you can share photos, videos, and updates.

• Close Friends: Plan a monthly dinner or activity together.

• Long-Distance Friends: Schedule a bi-weekly video call to stay connected.

• Colleagues: Grab coffee or lunch together once a week to build rapport and discuss work-related topics.

TouchBase: Your Partner in Nurturing Relationships

TouchBase is designed to make it easier than ever to schedule and maintain regular check-ins with the people you care about.

TouchBase helps you:

• Organise Your Connections: Easily categorise your contacts based on how close you are and how often you'd like to connect.

• Remember the Moments: Quickly log your interactions with notes about your conversations, so you can remember what's important, and pick up where you left off.

• Gentle Reminders: Get personalised reminders to reach out, ensuring you never miss an important birthday, anniversary, or just a simple 'thinking of you'.

TouchBase is more than just an app; it's your personal tool for building and maintaining the relationships that mean the most to you.

It helps you stay organised, remember important details, and receive timely reminders to reach out, ensuring that your connections stay strong, no matter how busy life gets.

Overcoming Resistance: Addressing Common Concerns

• "I Don't Want to Bother Them": Remember that most people appreciate it when others reach out. If you're concerned about bothering someone, simply ask them how often they would like to check in.

• "I Don't Have Anything Interesting to Share": You don't need to have exciting news to share. Simply asking about the other person's life and listening actively is enough.

• "It Feels Forced": If scheduling check-ins feels forced, try to incorporate them into your routine in a more natural way. For example, you could schedule a weekly phone call while you're commuting to work.

The Long-Term Impact: Investing in Your Relationships

Scheduling regular check-ins with friends and family is an investment in your long-term well-being. By prioritising these relationships, you're building a support system that will help you navigate life's challenges and celebrate its joys.

Don't let the busyness of life prevent you from nurturing the connections that matter most. Start scheduling regular check-ins today and reap the rewards of stronger, more meaningful relationships.