Thursday, March 26, 2020

Why Staying Connected Matters—And How To Do It

Are you struggling to adapt to a new routine? It's hard. Working from home while managing your family is stressful. Worrying about your business can grind your productivity to a halt. It's easy to feel anxious and to ignore "non-essentials" like staying in touch with family and friends.

Yet, staying connected is more important than ever. According to experts, it's an antidote to stress. Talking about everyday worries can reduce their impact, both for you and for the people you connect with.

New technology gives us all kinds of ways to stay connected when we can't be with the people we love. Follow these tips to get started.

1: Stay connected through digital groups


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When you can't share news in person, find a new way to share it.

For example, it's easy to set up a private Facebook page to keep your extended family connected. Think of it as an ongoing family newsletter. Instead of waiting to tell your cousins how things are going, you can tell them directly. If your neighborhood doesn't have an online group, create one. It's a new way to connect on neighborhood safety, track down a lost pet, or even catch a package thief.

Not sure what to share? Start with a video. Alarm.com-powered security cameras and doorbell cameras can capture everything from a baby's first steps to a suspicious visitor at your door. You can post any clip directly to your new group using the Alarm.com app.

2: Meet up with friends and family virtually


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Instead of postponing meetups and gatherings, take them online.

A group video chat on FaceTime can keep friendships fresh even though you're in different places. A new Google extension called Netflix Party lets friends and family stream and video-chat through a movie together, with the ability to pause and play for everyone at once.

To make it easy for older adults to reach you, gift them an Alarm.com Wellcam for their home. It's a video camera with two-way voice and a call-out button for connecting directly with no dialing required. Here's how one family uses it.


Syndicated from Why Staying Connected Matters—And How To Do It

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