Staying connected whilst socially distanced

It’s been over a month since the government announced Lockdown 3.0 and many of us are feeling the lack of contact with friends and loved ones. Humans are social animals and having good friendships, relationships and social connections play an important part in looking after our wellbeing. 

Here are some tips to help you stay close to your friends and family whilst staying home.

1. Make a date

Cold dark evenings can make us want to hibernate, but it’s important for our mental health to have social events to look forward to, even if it has to be remotely. Schedule in video calls with loved ones – there’s lots of apps and options out there for different devices. And don’t forget the regular landline for those who aren’t up to speed with digital communication.

2. Mix it up

Calls don’t have to just be for a catch up – you can play games, or even prop your phone up for a video call whilst eating your dinner to make it feel like you’re together. Many streaming sites have a ‘watch together’ feature where you can watch a film or tv show as a group and chat throughout.

3. Talk about how you feel

We might feel pressure to put up a front and pretend everything is fine, but it’s natural to feel a range of emotions at the moment. Don’t be afraid to share how you’re coping. By talking about your feelings, you might find you’re able to share different ways of thinking about things and gain a different perspective. You might also feel less alone in how you feel and gain useful advice from people you trust.

4. Good neighbours

It’s also worth checking in with your neighbours (socially distanced of course) to see how they’re getting on and if they need any help. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference and the act of helping out will improve your own mental wellbeing.

5. Lightening round

Quizzes are fun for the whole family to get involved in – gather a team, give each household their own round to write questions for, or take it in turns to host a weekly quiz, with a household crowned a winner at the end of each week.

6. Use the post

Sending a handwritten card is a personal gesture that will always be appreciated. You can also treat loved ones to a delivery of flowers or other gifts if you can’t be there on their special day.

Without being able to drop by and visit in person, it can be tricky to stay connected. But with isolation leaving many feeling cut-off, it’s more important than ever to stay in touch with our loved ones – even if we can’t physically be with them.

If you would like more ideas on staying social in lockdown, check out our article here.