Studies suggest that there's a mental health crisis that's steadily brewing throughout society. From excessive social media consumption to crippling loneliness, a lot of people don't feel a closeness to Family members and friends. Whether you're in this boat or simply want to grow closer to your family members, consider the following tips to get started.

1. Practice Loving Communication

While it's fun to joke and poke fun at each other, be very careful regarding how often it happens. Understand that there's a way to take it too far and hurt a family member. Be mindful of the ways you can hurt others with your words.

If you can see that a family member is hurt by a joke or some remark, address it immediately with an apology. When you all practice loving communication with each other, it fosters an environment where closeness can ensue.

2. Spend Quality Time

For some people, it's not the number of hours they spend with a loved one that counts. For them, quality time is what's most important. For many parents, there's an understandable sense of guilt when they're only able to spend a few minutes with their child during the weekday. This is typical for working parents because of work, school, and other time constraints. However, focused time is what's most important.

Putting down your phone to spend 30 focused minutes with your child each day can mean a lot and still make an impact. For family members who live outside of your home, find ways to connect via telephone, scheduled meet-ups, and vacation getaways. Plan ahead to prioritize the connections that are most important to you.

3. Pay Attention and Care

At the fundamental level, many people simply don't care about anything outside of themselves and what they need. If there's nothing to gain from a relationship, many people won't even try to mask their disinterest. Focus less on becoming an interesting person, and spend more time being interested.

When you're interested in a family member, you pay attention to what they have to say. Listen as they talk about their day, current challenge, or exciting news. Ask follow-up questions to show that you're tuned in and attentive to what they're sharing.

4. Learn Their Love Language

Love languages are often reserved for couples in order to help them strengthen their relationships. However, if everyone has a love language, others need to know it to shower love. Even if someone isn't in a loving, committed relationship, they still deserve to feel love from their loved ones.

What works for you might not be what works for your father. If your father loves words of affirmation, be sure to regularly tell him about the things you love about him. Encourage him regularly.

If your sister loves to feel the warmth of physical touch, always greet her with hugs. Learn your love language, and share the information with your family members. When you know a person's love language, speak it regularly with them.

5. Create a Safe Space for Them

When you've lost a family member, this loss leaves a gaping hole in the family unit. If you see that one family member has a particularly hard time during the holidays (because of that loss), create a safe space for them by learning more about how you can make that time easier for them.

This is an example of how you can be more considerate of your family members in a way that facilitates healing. By connecting with professional services like Jules Shore Healthy Client Boundaries, you'll be able to become better equipped to create safe spaces for you and your family members.

6. Encourage Reciprocity

To experience healthy relationships, reciprocity is paramount. If one person feels like they're always giving, they're going to feel dissatisfied and unfulfilled in the relationship. This is why it's so important to voice your concerns as they arise.

If the relationship feels one-sided, give the other person action steps to make sure they're aware of the issue and actively working to fix it.

Make sure you're giving to your relationships as well. It's unfair to be completely fulfilled in your relationships as you don't provide fulfillment as well. A healthy relationship is a two-way street.

Bottom Line

As families grapple with countless issues in the world, they should feel like they're safe when they enter their households. Even though many people focus on the aesthetics of their home, it's also important to consider the emotional connections and unity in the home. When a family considers these six tips, they can create a bond that'll never die.

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