Catch Up Therapy – the positive impact of a good conversation

What’s your ideal setting for a great catch up? Those that know me well will testify that I adore a cup of tea, and more recently coffee! I can’t pretend I’m not partial to the odd glass of wine or gin too. But what makes any of these beverages a much more enjoyable experience is the art of good old conversation. I do love a good scroll through social media or getting lost in a great podcast but they don’t make me feel as uplifted as a face to face conversation. It has been suggested by many that enjoying the company of others contributes to your happiness, improved mental and physical health and can even help you live longer.

In the past twelve months or so family life has, dare I say out loud, has settled into some sort of routine now both my children are in full time school. I loved taking my two to baby and toddler groups and the social interaction that gave all of us and I do miss them now those days have gone (at least during term time) but this has allowed me to make a little more time for self-care, and part of that time is spent with meeting friends and fully concentrating on catching up. Making time for reintroducing this into my busy life as a working mam has been so beneficial. I’m relishing the opportunity to speak about what’s on my mind and going on in my life and I go home with a renewed energy and feel refreshed to face the chaos of family life. just by listening and sharing a different perspective.

Talking has the power to change the course of the day and mood of others too. You never know how much of a positive impact you could be having.I love that we not only catch up on each other’s news when I talk with friends but also that you’ll inevitably learn something new or gain valuable advice, or a totally new perspective, from them on your outpourings. It’s great that there are lots of mental health awareness raising in the media as it’s really getting people talking too. It sends the correct message that it’s ok to take time out to talk and catch up. This positive message goes hand in hand with the shift from the urge to portray a perfect life, where we are now encouraged to say that it is ok not to be ok. The valuable lesson being not to bottle things up and help each other out.

I am also loving the opportunity to maintain the sense of community outside of social media (which has been a godsend in those manic baby and toddler days where leaving the house felt impossible!) which we’ve probably all lost to some degree in our busy lives. With busy lives and modern technology making virtual communication much easier and by far the most convenient option, which I absolutely embrace, I think we need to use this to enhance and not replace that face to face contact. With the proven benefits there really is no substitute for a good old fashioned chat. Talking and taking time out improves your relationship with others too, especially as a parent where your happiness has such an impact on the well-being of your children.

But with a hectic life pulling you in all directions do you struggle to fit catch ups in with work and home life? Whilst it is clear that there are benefits, It is a symptom of modern life that finding the time to talk is difficult, so how do you fit these opportunities in? I personally find that making catching up as much of a priority as other important things on my to-do list helps, making sure I schedule them regularly in advance and commit to them – not just on my non-working days but during lunch breaks at work too. I have standing monthly arrangements with work-friends and friends outside of work which we all try and commit to as much as possible. Having that set day every fourth week helps you make it part of your routine, and it doesn’t feel like an effort to find the time when it is incorporated into your life that way. I do love some of the tips that are given on bustle.com (link below). I love the idea of paying in advance and how they challenge the barriers of being “too busy” to meet up and even suggest meeting up to do chores together – this can help inspire some productive opportunities to meet up and talk.

Do you feel that you need to make more time to talk? are you overwhelmed thinking how you could possibly fit in? Or are you on top of your ‘keeping in touch’ game and able to offer any more ideas, maybe some really creative ones, on how you manage it? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Featured links:

https://www.bustle.com/p/38-gross-products-on-amazon-with-shockingly-high-reviews-15803822