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Gi"s for physical fitness buffs BY METRO Holiday shopping is a fun way to show loved ones just how much they're appreciated. Al- though it's not always easy to find the right gift, identifying at least one passion of each per- son on your shopping list can make it easier to find the perfect present. No two families are exactly the same, but that doesn't mean they don't share similar characteristics and per- sonalities. For example, many families have at least one person who qualifies as a physical fitness buff. A passion for fitness can serve as a great starting point when shopping for a loved one who can't wait to exercise each day. This holiday season, shoppers can stoke that passion for exercise with some gifts designed to help people reach their fitness goals. Insulated water bottle On the surface, a new water bottle might not seem like the most im- pressive gift. However, fitness buffs know just how much water bottles have changed in recent years and how invalu- able it can be to have a good one available. A high-quality in- sulated water bottle can keep water cold for hours, ensuring endurance athletes ac- customed to long runs or cycling sessions won't need to hydrate with warm drinks no matter how long it's been since they started their work- outs. Fitness trackers Fitness trackers run the gamut from low- cost options with useful yet limited capabilities to more expensive items that can seemingly give athletes all the informa- tion they need about variables such as their heart rate and perfor- mance metrics. If the fitness buff on your list has his or her heart set on an expen- sive device, speak to other family members about pooling your re- sources. App subscription and/or a gift card The popularity of various exercise apps spiked dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic because they made it easy to get pro- fessional fitness instruc- tion at home. A subscription to a service such as Class- Pass (classpass.com) provides access to classes at thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons and spas across the globe. This can help fitness buffs discover new exercises if their existing routines have grown stale or sim- ply stay in shape even if they don't always have time to get to the gym. Exercise equipment Though the worst days of the pandemic might be in the rear- view mirror, the world has grown accustomed to periodic spikes that could compromise workout routines. That shouldn't be a problem for fitness buffs who keep some simple exer- cise equipment at home. A set of dumbbells, a new weight bench or even a new yoga mat can ensure fitness buffs won't miss a workout even if they can't get out of the house. Exercise is an essen- tial part of fitness buffs' daily routines. Holiday shoppers should keep that in mind as they look for gifts to make this season even more special for their fitness-focused family members. BY METRO The internet, mobile devices and social media have changed the way people communicate. Face-to-face discussions and conversations over the phone have largely given way to videocon- ference calls and text messaging. Communication involves the exchange of information. Com- munication may seem straightforward, but it's anything but in a world in which there are so many ways to share and access information. Indi- viduals who aspire to be more effective communi- cators will have to tailor their lessons according to the mode of communica- tion being used. Someone who may be a whiz at crafting an email and dis- tributing it may fall flat when asked to speak to a crowd in a meeting, and vice versa. Despite that, there are some general rules that work across various modes of com- munication. Learn to listen Listening before you speak is a good tip to follow. Effective com- munication requires good listening skills according to the pro- fessionals at Harvard University. Active listen- ing is an undervalued skill. Once you learn it, you can learn about the other speaker and craft responses and questions accordingly based on the information you've gleaned. Know your audience Customize your mes- sage based on the audi- ence. For example, you wouldn't use the same vocabulary for a group of kindergartners as you would for a class of college students. Tailor your message, words and energy around who is on the receiving end of your words. Have a goal in mind Think about why you are trying to get a mes- sage across. You may be there to inspire or pro- vide support. Perhaps your goal is to advocate for a cause. Knowing your goal can help you craft a consistent and clear message. Embrace brevity People tend to be pressed for time. And if tweets and texts have taught us anything, sometimes it's best to keep communication brief for it to be most ef- fective. Busy individuals will not want to wade through paragraphs of text or hear hours of speech. Therefore, learn to edit what you have to say to get to the point and make it stick. Be vivid with your message A picture paints a thousand words, so try to harness that concept when developing your messages. Select lively verbs and use descrip- tive language so your message will be memo- rable. Try to avoid too many idioms, particu- larly when communi- cating with a diverse audience. A saying that is well known to you may not be received the same way by someone from a different back- ground. Use the right method It's easy to send a group text or go on so- cial media and reach a wide audience. But there's a time and a place for various meth- ods of communication. Offering condolences via text may be viewed as insincere, while a handwritten card may be more welcomed. Critical communications with staff are best done one-on-one, rather than through email. Communication does not come easy to all, but there are ways to hone skills and master the art of effective communication. Master the art of effective communication H6 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section