Connecting with others during the holidays

Tis’ the season for social gatherings and celebrating with loved ones near and far! Whether you’re visiting family for a large sit-down dinner, Face Timing over the phone with long-distance friends to ring in the new year or volunteering to serve meals at a local homeless shelter, there are endless opportunities for connecting with others during the holidays.  

As you find yourself engaging in many conversations over the next few months, make sure you pause and ask yourself: How well do I really know the person I’m talking to?

How can I improve my connection with others?

It often becomes routine to exchange simple, surface level questions when we socialize with others, such as, “How are you?”, “How’s the winter weather treating you?”, “How is your day going?”. And while these casual statements can be fine for initiating basic back-and-forth dialogue, they don’t always help with learning more about the unique qualities and character of a person.

Next time you’re talking with someone, try channeling the festive energy all around you this season and making it a goal to connect on a deeper level. By incorporating the following list of questions into your conversations, you’re guaranteed to improve the quality of your interactions and spread even more holiday cheer this year!

Try asking the following 10 questions:  

1. What holiday traditions do you celebrate?
2. What are some of your favorite holiday recipes/dishes?  
3. What are your favorite childhood memories from this time of year?
4. If you could take a vacation anywhere to escape the cold weather, where would you go?
5. What are your favorite wintertime activities?
6. What made you smile recently?
7. What goals do you have for the new year?
8. Is there anything new you plan to try this year?
9. What is the best holiday gift you ever received?
10. What are some of the best moments that happened for you over the past year?

Looking for more tips to have a holly, jolly holiday season? Check out these great articles!

• 6 holiday stress busters
• Gratitude during the holidays
• 4 tips for a healthy holiday season