The holiday season is finally here! I am not one of those “Christmas begins after Halloween” people. For me, Christmas comes after Thanksgiving. The holiday season is about giving and about coming together with family and friends. With the world is it’s current state, there’s no knowing where things will be in a few weeks. Will everything shut down? Will the coronavirus continue spiking? No one knows, which means taking advantage of this holiday season and making sure you are keeping your loved ones close is so important.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are all about striking deals to spoil yourself or those you care about most with gifts. Yes, giving big elaborate gifts can be seen as the ultimate way to show someone you care, but that’s not always the case. There are so many ways to show someone that you care about them with spending tons of money. I mean it is common knowledge the time is way more valuable than money.

Check out 5 simple ways to show someone you care about them :

1. Go out of your way to spend time with someone

There are so many things that you can do every single day. You can be a bum, you can go change the world, you can chase your dreams, you can really do anything you want! Choosing to spend time with someone is the best gift that can be given.

It sounds so simple, but for busy people this is easier said than done. Maybe you have to change plans, have lots of work left to do, or put something off that you’ve wanted to do just to sped time with someone you care about. Doing this costs absolutely nothing, and shows someone how much that they mean to you. You don’t have to spend money to show someone you care, giving someone your time weighs so much more.

2. Help someone solve a problem they’ve been struggling with

Everyone you know if fighting a battle. Making it a priority to help someone solve whatever they are facing shows so much more than a purchased gift ever could.

It could be a big or small problem : it could be an argument with a friend, an internal battle, or maybe putting together new Ikea furniture. It doesn’t matter what the problem is, but showing you are invested in finding a solution speaks volumes. If someone you care about is having a tough time with something, help them however you can. Even if you can’t fully solve the problem offer advice or a shoulder to lean in is incredibly valuable.

3. Leave a note or send someone a hand-written letter

Being in such a digital word, it’s easy to get caught up in sharing memes on Instagram or tagging someone in feel-good stories on Facebook. Writing a note for someone to find is such a personal gesture. If you can’t leave a note, try mailing a letter or a card to someone with a note inside. Sending a card to family, friends, or a significant other doesn’t take much time or money. It’s a quick way to show you care!

Just showing a small gesture that you had to take time out of your day to do can really change someone’s day. Adding in a personalized message or note can bring a smile to his/her face!

4. When something reminds you of someone, tell them

There’s really no need for explanation here : when you think of someone tell them! Maybe you watched a movie that you quote with a friend, or heard a song that brought up a special memory, whatever it is tell that person you thought of them. Being in a pandemic world, we might not be able to see everyone we’d like but letting someone know we are thinking about them can help us feel more connected while being apart. Thinking about this possibility of the looming second lockdown? Hopefully these 15 pieces of advice help!

5. Call someone out of the blue

Miss someone? Want to touch base but don’t know what to say? Do you need advice and there’s only one person you can trust? Just call them!

It could be a 5 minute chat or an hour long catch-up. The person you call might need that phone call more than you know! You never know how much a phone call could mean to someone, or even you reaching out could mean. Call a family member that you haven’t heard from a while. Haven’t seen a friend in a bit, give them a call! Just asking how things are going shows someone that you care. No money spent here, except on the phone bill.

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