It sounds all too familiar. “I don't know how to do it, I can't facilitate a gathering, I'm not sure if people will show up" and the list goes on.
Well, I would agree. It can be agonising to just think about a plan, but trust that it gets increasingly easier when we start taking actionable steps towards materialising it. Hosting or throwing a party is the quickest and most efficient way to stay upbeat. Keep these pointers in mind if you are not yet convinced:
- Casual chats and light-hearted banter can lead to your next networking session
- Communal eating and camaraderie fosters connection among individuals
- Inclusivity and celebration are becoming a lot more common in the world we live in today
We tend to triavilise conversations as just dialogues without substance, but in actuality, small talks pave the way to relax our minds. According to Scott Ford on Why Leaders Should Encourage Socializing in the Workplace, ‘Casual interactions can help reveal strengths, talents, hobbies and other potentially binding qualities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.’
Culturally, being present together during meal times or festivities is carried out to encourage a sense of community and to strengthen relationships. It uplifts our human spirit and as we work together towards a shared goal, this kind of connection forms a pulsating foundation that becomes important to cultivate positive psychology.
What is positive psychology? A branch of study in the realm of pyschology that switches the focus from merely treating mental disorders to empowering positive mental health. Advocates of positive psyhcology believe that an enriching human experience is possible and it is an area that is often marred by extreme emphasis on mental disorders. In one of its study publishend in 2020, it stated that ‘Humans live in groups, pair bond and through connections socialise, share ideas and resources – in fact our survival depends on it.' hence this proves, that it is organically vital for us to organise, manage kinship and perhaps, take charge and bloom into the social butterfly that we really are !
Peek into these strategies to help you naviagte a reunion plan.
- Talk about it with a partner or someone close to you, whom might be interested to work on it together, but don't be discouraged if they are not fully committed to it and instead, ask for help. This will ensure that you're involving them without giving the impression that you need to share the responsibilities.
- Maggie Zhu who runs Omnivore's Cookbook shares some amazing Chinese New Year Feast tips from planning a menu ahead of time to ultimate hot pot guides – ideas can come in abundance, if we are willing to search for it.
- Start with a guest list and drop-in a tentative invite, just to find out if you could fix a feasible time and date with everyone you intent to gather.
- Make it hassle-free or homely, depending on what you would have eventually thought-out and ensure that you will end up doing what you love best.
- I know some of my friends who enjoy hosting and almost never leave the barbecue pit because they take pleasure in serving their guests by cooking, while some others enjoy greeting each and everyone because they love developing interpersonal communication with their guest. So, don't fret about how people will turn up and just focus on what hosting style suits you best.
- Small things matter. Perhaps, it might interest you to get a fortune cookie pack so that, everyone gets a chance to dig in and read a message that is meant for them.
- Let everyone chip in and plan a potluck together. Make it somewhat mysterious just to get the mood set early on. For instance, you can let your guests know that they should bring a food item that starts with the first letter of their names and to not reveal it until they arrive at the door.
- Try to avoid coming up with rigid rules or themes and instead, just let your guests know that they are welcomed at their convenience. Make the surprise element as the highlight of your party.
- We may have someone we know who is struggling. It might be insightful to note that ‘chronic loneliness can affect levels of hormones associated with stress and social bonding; one effect maybe a greater propensity to depression.’ as stated in an article published on BBC – so be mindful of being accomodative when hosting.
- No activity policy can turn out to be a great act of hospitality, especially when it is a re-union where a few might just wish to pop pineapple tarts and enjoy tea.
- Creating a safe space – albeit a relatively new concept, I am perfectly certain that we can all have lesser qualms about this in the modern era, as Paul Axtell so aptly puts it, ‘People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute.' in a Harvard Business Review article.
- Keep up with traditions and infuse the cultural prominence of Lunar new year, by incorporating colours, food items and décors that portray the significance of Lunar new year. Look some for some inspirations and you will be able to figure it all out.
Good luck !
Nina Nanthini is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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