I was warned at work several months ago, informally, but I was
warned. “Don’t plan anything important for the next six months,” I was told, “We’re going to be super busy.” Though this was said partly as complaint, the statement couldn’t have been closer to the truth. In the past 2 months I have been away on work for 67% of the time and I’m on track to spend less time at home in the near future.
Being away from my lovely wife and children so often isn’t easy. However, in some vocations, like the Army, travel is a necessary evil. For the other new/newish part-time jet-setters out there, I’ve compiled 5 tips I use to help stay connected with my loved ones.
1. Utilize What Al Gore Gave Us
Meaning, use the Internet (hehe). Depending on your line of work your free-time might be limited, so you have to make it count. The Internet provides all always on always available link to your family. The back-and-forth may be not real-time, but issues can be discussed, questions can be asked and answered, and stories can be shared.
2. Utilize Multiple Devices
This seems obvious enough, right? However, this fact can escape you when you are busy in meetings or working on projects. When free-time is tight, it is never tight enough to send a loving text message, quick email or update phone call. Note: Make sure you discuss your daily agenda with your significant other the first opportunity. This will help purposefully short phone calls seems less blunt.
3. Utilize Multiple Services (Double Dip)
When deep in thought, I’ll admit, I may neglect tips 1 & 2. What I won’t forget is to check/update my social networking apps. Twitter is already micro-blog/post based, so it comes in super handy in this regard. Before you leave set up a Twitter account for your significant other (currently my wife does not tweet…I KNOW) and a hash tag so you can catalog each other’s day and quickly catch up when you get a chance. Many Facebook applications are set up for quick updates and geo-tagging applications, like Foursquare, are key for double dipping – racking up points and badges while saying, “I love you.” For max efficiency, ask questions that don’t require an immediate answer and creatively carry on conversation while updating/checking-in.
4. Don’t Neglect the Phone Call
According to BizReport.com, texting has largely surpassed the phone call in a number of US mobile phone user markets. Prior to departure or once you know your agenda set up a time in which both parties will have time to comfortably have a telephone conversation. It is easy to ignore the importance of hearing a loved one’s voice, but trust me, after a week the sound like be like [insert personally specific feel-good memory].
5. Stay Positive
If I was going to add a sixth tip to this list, it would also be “stay positive.” Negativity throughout tips 1-4 will not make your time away any less stressful for you or your family. So, keep it positive. We have a saying in the Army – false motivation is better than no motivation. Please, liberally apply that philosophy here. There will be plenty of co-workers, friends and strangers to whom you can lament. Keep work and home separate.
I hope this list has been useful. Please note that all of this means absolute jack if you or your significant other aren’t truly interested in keeping close – this my friends is a whole other blog issue. Do you and your family already using these tips to keep close when living away? Do you know of something different that works that I may have missed? If you, please share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
We love using SKYPE! :) It’s FREE video chat…but does cost to use it as a phone line. You can download it for free on computers, and I believe there is now an app for Skype (I sound like an Apple commercial just now).
We Skype with my sister and her family who live in Tucson. Her husband, Major Chad Steel is a pilot in the Air Force, so I”m sure he could “Amen!” some of the tips you’ve offered! They are being transferred so any form of communication we have with them is great.
I would recommend using a webcam that is built into laptops. We used to have a free standing one and it wasn’t as clear, but I know not everyone can have a laptop… but that would be my recommendation. Much clearer and you don’t have to tote another object with a cord.
That’s my two cents…good work Marc. :)
Jamie,
Thank you so much for commenting! I feel like an idiot for neglecting Skype. I use Skype, rarely, to speak with overseas friends, but have yet to utilize it while away. I’m sure it will be more of a staple during deployment. There are iPhone and Android Skype applications. Haven’t used the Android app (I have an iPhone), but have had any negative issues with the iPhone app.
I would recommend using a built in webcam as well. Quality external webcams are costly.
Again, thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Marc
You are so welcome. I am addicted (well, sort of) to blogging so I truly enjoy reading others’. I would invite you to view mine but I haven’t written much of anything with substance, and have been writing more on Caeden’s. I’m pretty sure you don’t need activities for 2 year old’s…or don’t care much about us stay at home momma’s. :)
Thanks for serving our country…
Jamie :)
No need for the invite. I read your blog whenever I get a chance. 1.) Because it is interesting and 2.) you stop by mine and leave comments (which I enjoy). Haven’t read Caeden’s much though. I will have another one year old soon, so maybe I can turn my wife (Steph) onto Caeden’s blog. She is always looking for interesting activities. And you are wrong regarded me being interested in stay-at-home momma’s. I read several other blog from stay-at-home mom’s and my wife is one as well.
Thank you for your support…
Marc
As an older adult I find myself frantically catching up with the technology. I am going to spend a couple of months out of the country and am learning how to use skype. I have facebook as well, but if you can’t use your phone because of the expense (2.99 a minute) are there other ideas on how to cope?
Thanks for all of your help
I, like you, will be spending some time outside of the country in the near future. I know how you feel. However, we are both in luck. Why? Because we have Gmail accounts. Google has, in my opinion, has the best applications for staying in touch – other than social network services like Facebook/Twitter. Have you or do you use any other Google applications: Calendar, iG, Voice, Chat? These apps are well built, easy to use, and…drum roll please…can be integrated. I use Google iG as my home page ([PIC] http://bit.ly/aBSsW4). As you can see, I have my Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Reader, Google Latitude, Google News, and a few other apps on one page. Google Chat is automatically integrated into your gmail homepage (may have to download, but it’s there). Google Chat allows for audio and/or video chat.
Personnally, having several options to stay connected – text, voice, video, Facebook, Twitter, etc. – helps me to cope with being away. If you have any new or follow-up questions, please feel free to leave another comment or send me an email via the “Contact” page (button on header menu).
Thanks,
Marc