Talking about COVID-19: 7 Tips to Help You Feel Less Isolated
By Emily Coté
It’s been over a month since life as we know it changed. At first, I thought it might last a week, maybe two or three. I had no idea we would be 6 weeks in with no change in sight.
This transition hasn’t been easy for me, or for any of us. If, like me, you find yourself at home with your whole family, expected to home school your children, keep the house clean, make sure everyone is happy 24/7, and not be able see anyone in your social circle, you’re feeling the stress of quarantine.
Having struggled with anxiety for my entire adult life, I’m finding social distancing particularly difficult. I’m the kind of person who can’t handle being in my house for long periods of time. I NEED socialization. I look forward to the little things like picking my son up from school and chatting with other parents, talking to the cashier at the grocery store about the weather, and seeing my friends and family who I rely on for support.
The good news is there’s a HUGE difference between social distancing and physical distancing. As someone who has worked from home for the last year, I’ve somewhat had to adapt myself to social distancing. The current situation has amplified this two-fold and I’ve realized that there are many things I could have been doing for the last year that would have helped me feel not so isolated.
Here are my top suggestions for keeping somewhat of a “normal” social routine while not being able to physically see anyone who doesn’t live with you:
Phone calls!
Remember before we could text or had multiple social media accounts that we could chat with our friends on? We called each other! I make time every week to call at least one friend and catch up. It’s more meaningful than tagging each other in memes and “liking” each others’ Facebook statuses. Call a friend and chat about how you’re both feeling.
Schedule a weekly video date with a friend.
Grab the same ingredients at your weekly grocery run and make and eat dinner together, have a virtual happy hour, or play a game like charades.
Start a virtual book club.
There are so many ways to read these days, we don’t need to go to a bookstore. Check your local library’s website to see if they lend out books electronically, or download a book, then meet once every couple of weeks to talk about it. You can find tons of book club questions online.
Chat with your neighbours (from a distance).
Even if you haven’t spoken to them before, this a great time to get to know the people who live close to you. They’re probably craving human interaction as much as you are.
Organize a game night.
Whether you live with family, a roommate, or alone, this is possible! Turn off the tv, your phones, and your tablets, and really connect. Game nights are always a great way to experience real social connection, and whether it’s in person with your family, or on a video call with your friends, I promise it will be fun.
Write letters.
Did you ever have a Pen Pal as a child? What happened to this idea? Write a letter to a friend or family member, and you just may be surprised to see how many you get in return.
Plan a weekly date night with your significant other.
Just because we can’t go out for dinner, it doesn’t mean we can’t go on a date! Make your favourite meal, get dressed up, and enjoy a night together like you would if you were at your favourite restaurant.
I hope some of these tips help you feel a little less isolated. When I realized we may be in this for the long haul, I made it a priority to do all of the above activities and they have helped me immensely. Stay strong, we WILL get through this.
