So, you’re all moved out of your family house and living on your own, congrats! The good news is you won’t have to worry about getting caught stealing your sisters’ clothes, but the bad news is you didn’t realize how much you’d miss them. Life gets busy, and staying in touch with people you won’t see all the time is harder than you’d think, especially once you’re in university. So much could happen, and if you’re not talking often by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, you feel like you hardly know them. Follow these helpful tips to stay in touch with your siblings while you’re away at school:
Visit each other
One of the best things you can do for yourself in university is arranging your schedule in such a way that allows you to have Friday’s off! Many of us have streamlined our schedules, so why not take advantage of your long weekend and road trip to visit your siblings because nothing beats seeing them in person! This task can seem a little daunting, but if you manage your time and plan ahead, there is definitely a way to do it on a budget and still have fun. The public transit system, as well as the GObus, is great and you can always find student discounts on food, drinks and entertainment, so you’ll save a ton of money! This is especially fun if you have siblings who are also in school because you’ll get to see them in their natural habitat and experience a whole new city, their campus, and meet their friends too! Who knows, maybe you’ll even attend a few lectures if you’re like me!
Call to check in
No excuses, there are so many options on how to communicate with one another. You don’t have to worry about racking up a long-distance bill when you can FaceTime or Skype. Everyone is busy, but you are never too busy to give your sibling a call and see how they are doing. If you know you have a lot of catching up to do, try to make a routine phone call date once a week to fill each other in on all the details!
Gossip sessions are always the best with your sister (or brother!)
University is stressful and can sometimes be an uncomfortable experience when you don’t know anyone. There’s no one better to lean on than a sister or brother when you’re having a hard time adjusting to your new roommates, friends, work and school… this new lifestyle is definitely a lot to take in! They will be a great sounding board and will usually take your side! Not only will you have someone to vent to, but you will also get to know what’s going on in their daily life.
Make the most of your reading week
Reading week is a time to catch up on your studies and with old friends, but don’t forget about the other important people in your life, your siblings! Let’s be honest… are you really going to spend every waking minute of the week studying ? Make time to meet up with your siblings and spend some quality time together. The trick here is that it doesn’t have to be anything too extravagant, try planning a day trip, grabbing drinks or even watching a movie.
If all else fails, tag each other in memes
The meme is basically the greeting card of millennials. Who doesn’t like seeing that notification that someone tagged you in something? (What a rush, am I right?) This is such a quick and easy way to let your sibling know that you’re thinking about them by tagging them in funny posts, or something that made you think of them. Plus, you guys grew up together and share so many memories – there is bound to be something you guys can relate to!
Happy socializing with your siblings!