Tip Of The Month: Check In – Again – With Your Neighbors

Checking in with our neighbors, just to see how they are doing and catch up, is a vital part of neighboring

As you may have noticed, we are now in the routine of releasing this particular neighboring tip every seven weeks. Why? Because we think checking in with our neighbors regularly is one of the best ways we can neighbor in the midst of this pandemic. Every seven weeks, we want to give you the opportunity to ask yourself, “Have I checked in with my neighbors recently?” This week, if your answer is “no”, that’s OK, and now is your opportunity to do so. If your answer is “yes,” that’s awesome, but because so much has changed, and continues to change, in the midst of this pandemic, we encourage you to check in with them again.

Checking in with our neighbors, just to see how they are doing and catch up, is a vital part of neighboring. We believe it’s also extremely important in the midst of this pandemic. And the thing is, all it takes is a simple greeting, such as “Hi neighbor!” and a simple check-in question, such as “How are you?”, “How are you feeling?”, “What have you been up to?” or “What’s up?”  You get the point. There are tons of ways you can verbally check in with your neighbors. If you have checked in with your neighbors relatively recently, maybe you just say something like, “Hey! I know we talked a little while back, but so much has changed in the world since then. How are you?” Here are a few ways to check in with your neighbors with physical distancing in mind:

• Wash your hands and then knock on your neighbor’s door or ring their doorbell and walk a good distance away before engaging in conversation with them.
• Call your neighbor.
• Wash your hands and then write your neighbor a card or letter and put it in their mailbox.
• Wash your hands and then write your neighbor a note and stick it on their door. 
• Write a chalk message to your neighbor on their sidewalk or driveway. 
• Text your neighbor.

These check-ins are so simple and yet so meaningful! Among so much more, they tell our neighbors that we care about them, help us foster relationships with them, and perhaps even help our neighbors remain healthy!  Happy neighboring!

From The Neighboring Movement at SoCe Life, Great Plains Annual Conference

Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2020