“ In short, time zones go from being something you rarely considered to become a very central part of your day to day.
”
news that I’m eager to discuss with friends abroad, I screenshot or note it and add it to the catalogue of things I want to be sure to chat about when they’re awake. This way, I can always remember what was on my mind throughout the day and still have those conversations we both crave in each other’s absence. You may even find you like this method more be- cause you’ve had the time to consider your opinions and organise your thoughts.
Balancing act
Part of being a human being who inter- acts with other human beings is under- standing and respecting that sometimes the hustle and bustle of life prevents even the closest friends and family from being able to spend as much time together as they’d like. Luckily with phones and social media, there are a lot of non-invasive ways to keep in touch with your faraway friends, unless, of course, you are like me and will send 65 messages in a row with no regard for the consequences. Like with all things in life, sometimes sacrifices must be made and you’ll miss a fun night out with friends to spend virtual time with your grandma.
Maintaining the balance means being re-
spectful of one another’s commitments and recognising that you can’t skip every event with your local friends, just as your long-distance partner can’t always shuffle around their work or study to flex around your time difference.
Track topics
When you’re not sharing physical space and time with someone, it’s an adjustment to learn how to communicate all over again. When one of you is starting your day as the other’s ends, you’ll find that topics of conversation doesn’t flow like they did when you were sitting together on a couch or road tripping.
When I see something interesting in the
“When you’re not sharing physical space and time with someone, it’s an adjustment to learn how to communicate all over again.”
Kayla Briel is an American expat living, working and mostly eating in London. She covers pop culture, relationships, technology, fashion and food, and can be found on Instagram: @kookynspooky. When she’s not busy trying to say hello to every single dog in the city, she is completing her MBA at the University of Westminster.
Time Zone Trauma is a killer, and your communication will have to be refined and redefined as you grow accustomed to the dynamic of having fewer hours per day with the people you cherish. However, with the right regimen, you can make those hours more impactful. Set ex- pectations for how often you’ll be able to be in touch and do your best to keep your word. Be understanding, be flexible, and be
consistent.You’ll be in TZT remis- sion in no time.
22 FOCUS The Magazine March/April 2019
www.focus-info.org
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