Having a big family can be a blessing. Those holidays together are the best and worst times in our lives. Emphasis on the best. Sometimes in life, though, we’ll get split up from those closest to us. As people grow older, opportunities present themselves that are hard to ignore. So say you find yourselves split from your loved ones by the invisible line called borders.

It’s still possible and crucial to stay in touch, no matter the distance. Finding ways to share updates regularly, offer an “ear to cry on,” or just talk about everything or nothing is vital to maintaining those relationships.

The good news is, you don’t need to look far. Thanks to the internet and the recent customer-oriented technological pushes have given us amazing personal communication options. Social media gives us a window into a person’s life. Instant messaging applications allow for short or long conversations on the go. VoIP applications have taken calling to a new level, making calls to India incredibly affordable and available to anyone.

There are, of course, many other tools available to today’s users that are incredibly varied and be great fun:

• video calls;
• electronic mail;
• cloud sharing;
• shared calendars.

The great white cloud

That’s right: there’s an ability to lead a shared online calendar with other family members and to offer peaks into each other’s lives. It’s a great way to be able to find spots to sync up for meaningful conversations or just pointless long chats just for a laugh. It’s also a great way to make sure you never forget a birthday.

There have also been great advancements in terms of shared long-distance entertainment. Third-party apps utilize Spotify for shared music listening (with some tinkering). There are similar instruments for watching movies long distance. The gaming industry is great at spending time together online while having fun, with various games made for all demographics to be enjoyable.

Clouds are also becoming amazing options for families, being highly customizable and accessible from anywhere with a plethora of various devices. Being able to share the intimate moments that you don’t want to display to the outside world is a blessing. Photo albums, videos and whatever else you’d like to be on there can be kept for all your relatives to access whenever they need reminding of what’s important.

To conclude

All of these options can mean that a long-distance familial relationship doesn’t have to be difficult or strenuous. Being in touch with your family is crucial. Family relations are something worth keeping strong, and distance shouldn’t be a barrier in these progressive times. Get out there, enjoy the world, split up and look for your own best life.