The pandemic COVID-19 has a tremendous effect on our daily lives, leading to extreme stress, fear, and anxiety.
Several useful tips to prevent ourselves are CDC guidelines on social distance and hygiene practices. It implies that we should not gather in workplaces, houses of worship, classrooms, gym, and cafes.
Individuals who already feel alone or have mental health problems needing human interaction may feel even more isolated. Therefore, it’s crucial to identify healthy ways to communicate at a time like this.
We can make meaningful connections if we are aware and thoughtful and follow some other forms of connecting, like online meeting platforms than in-person meetings.
- Online Meeting Platforms
By bringing your loved ones together in such critical times, you should become technologically advanced and embrace video calls. There are several online meeting platforms out there that offer free services like Calendly, Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime, and WhatsApp to bring you closer to your friends and family.
If video calls are not your idea of a good meeting, to be in front of the camera a lot, you can make a voice call or text someone you enjoy talking with for a chat. Either way, Plan daily calls like you’d plan a staff meeting with time and effort.
- Exercise with Your Loved Ones
Start exercising at a healthy distance with a friend or a family member. When individuals experience physical distances of at least 6 feet, many health authorities promote outdoor activity (2 meters). Slide down your walking boots if you live alone and then invite a friend or relative to join you for a “physically distant” stroll and a good chat.
If you cannot go out but want to workout with a friend, there are exercise machines and tools to enable you to engage and even compete with others while you use them. The Peloton bike is one famous example.
- Play Online Game
For most young people, working from home is a time-consuming task. They don’t get enough time to connect with their friends and have a good time together. For them, the fun options for connection in COVID-19 are limitless now.
If they can’t go out for dine-in or on dates, they can invite their friends on online games. Hopping into virtual activities is among the perfect ‘connection’ ways to connect. It minimizes anxiety, finds your rhythm, and yet makes you feel you are out while doing what is good for you, staying and keeping everyone safe.
- Be a Friend/Helper
In times like these, we all need a supportive, helping hand. But we don’t have any for ourselves. It is better to become one. Do good because it encourages not only others, but it also helps you improve as a better version of yourself.
You can get a boost of energy when you feel terrible by helping and doing good things for others. Smile and connect, for example, with individuals you meet (from a distance, of course) as you go out for your everyday stroll to buy groceries, or when you visit the drive-thru, think about getting food for elderly neighbors. If you can afford it, consider contributing to food banks.
Being a helper allows you to find sense, intent, and greater well-being, which you desperately need in times like a crisis.
Be grateful for everything you have. Pay your thanks through your actions. If you have good health, help the elderly. If you have money, donate it to the needy. If you have time, talk to people who need company. Reminder: Maintain social distance while doing anything to keep yourself safe.