Going off to college means seeing less of one’s family, which can be stressful and overwhelming once the school year brings new assignments, classes, professors and friends. Even though being away from your family can be challenging, there are plenty of ways to keep in touch while in Athens.
Here are some effective ways to keep in touch with family at college:
Sending a simple text
When college life proves to be busy, you can sometimes forget how easy it is to send a simple text to your loved ones. If you have a free slot in your day, take the time to reach out, whether it be by sending a “thinking of you” or a memory of them. You can also schedule a time to talk over the phone or in person, which can be beneficial if you need to plan ahead for breaks in the semester. By sending a text, you’re proving to your family that you do miss them, even if your schedule is packed.
Schedule a designated time to call
Once you get adjusted, talk to your family members about a time and day that works best for them to schedule a phone call. You can talk for five minutes or an hour, giving life updates or retelling stories that happened to you while at school. It’s super easy nowadays to set this up, as almost everyone has an iPhone, and you can also use this time to destress and get advice from your family.
FaceTime, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype… or all of them!
If you’re a few hours away or out of state, using a platform such as FaceTime, Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype can help you stay in touch with family. Usually, there’s no time limit on calls, and you can see the person you’re talking to instead of calling or texting. This is a great way to make communicating more fun and spontaneous, which feels more authentic than connecting virtually. Overall, these platforms are accessible, easy to use and affordable for any student to use this semester.
Social media
While being on social media has its flaws, using it to foster a connection with your family is not a bad way to keep in touch. You can use sites such as Instagram or Snapchat to send jokes, videos, memes or pictures back and forth, as well as post content with ones you love and miss. This is also a very accessible form of communication, as it’s not difficult to use, nor does it hinder individuals from different backgrounds and technological skill levels.
Letters and care packages
This is probably the most old-fashioned route to go down, but you can also send letters and care packages to friends and family from far away. Sometimes, sending something handwritten or made is more sentimental for people, and it can allow for new memories to be made while apart. It’s also fairly easy to mail packages nowadays, as well as write a quick letter to someone you love. You can also make a schedule of when to send these, preventing you from forgetting to reach out during a busy week.
