7 Ways to Overcome Social Isolation During the Pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak has quickly changed many things about our daily lives. In a matter of days, stay-at-home measures were put into place that led us to distance ourselves from our friends, family, classmates, and coworkers.

However, while we are staying apart from each other physically to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, it’s important to stay connected socially, to protect our physical and mental well-being.
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So today, we’re going to take a look at several ways to connect with others while maintaining a physical distance. 

​How Social Isolation Affects Well-Being

Social isolation is any experience of being separated from others. This could be due to factors such as a recent move, loss of mobility, unemployment, or health issues.

Any of these experiences, especially social isolation during a quarantine, can have a major impact on your mental health (source). For example, you may experience feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression, boredom, or insomnia.

A lack of social connection can also lead to physical health problems. For instance, it has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure (source).

For these reasons, it is crucial to keep up relationships and social contacts—even while maintaining physical distance.
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7 Ways to Overcome Social Isolation

​These simple activities can make a huge difference in your day and help you to feel socially connected. 

​1. Plan a Day and Time to Connect

Having a date and time set to connect with a friend or family member can give you something to look forward to and brighten your day. You could pick a day or two and set up a video chat or a phone call.

Sometimes when we are feeling lonely it’s difficult to think of who to call. Or maybe you think you are alone in your feelings. These are normal thoughts but remember that many people feel the same way at this time.
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It can be helpful to go through your contacts and reach out to friends or family you haven’t touched base with. You may find that they would like to chat on a regular basis too. 

2. Write a Letter or Email

If talking live isn’t for you, write emails or letters to friends and family. This is great for children as well. They can write to their grandparents and friends. And they could even ask questions to encourage the recipient to write back. Everyone loves getting letters!
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3. Say Hello to Your Neighbors

Go outside and say hello to your neighbors. You could go for a walk and maybe you’ll even meet someone new. Just remember to keep at least 6 feet away to protect your health and theirs. You could even take a walk together from either side of your neighborhood street. ​
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​4. Start a Neighborhood Trend

Make encouraging posters and signs and put them in your windows to support your neighbors. This is a fun project for both kids and adults. Some neighborhoods also put objects like stuffed animals in the windows or paint rocks to leave out for neighbors to see. These are great reminders that we are all in this together and that no one is alone. 
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​5. Host a Virtual Game Night

Game nights are so much fun and are a great change from your regular routine. You can use any video chat, such as Zoom, Google Meet, or House Party.
Some virtual game night ideas include:

• Playingcards.io – create a room and invite your friends to play card games.
• Cards Against Humanity Family Edition – This is a free, printable version of Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition. This is a new fill-in-the-blank comedy game that’s written for kids and adults to play together.
• Scattergories – This is a classic board game that is available to play virtually via app for free.
• Jackbox – Jackbox has 100’s of games to play virtually with your friends and family. You can purchase a single game or a pack of games to play all night!
• Charades – No app or equipment needed. A player acts out a word or phrase (for example a movie or a book), while other players guess the word or phrase. This game is always fun and full of laughs.
• Pictionary – Also a free and timeless game. The goal of the game is for one person to draw a picture without using any letters, numbers, words, gestures, verbal cues, or nonverbal cues, and their partner must guess what word corresponds to the picture being drawn. You can use this site for random Pictionary words. 

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​6. Online Community for Seniors

The coronavirus outbreak may be especially difficult for older individuals who are more at risk and are encouraged to stay home. For these reasons, it’s especially important to stay in touch with your older family members.
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In addition, Stitch is a community that helps anyone over 50 find companionship. They’ve added virtual events, group chat, and online discussions to help build friendship and community. Check out Stitch, a social networking site for seniors.

​​7. Adopt or Foster a Pet

​According to the National Institutes of Health, several studies confirm that animals can reduce feelings of loneliness, helping their owners have better overall moods and feel more socially supported. A furry companion can also help to reduce stress and anxiety. Just remember to consider how your pet will fit into your life when stay-at-home orders are lifted. 

​Summary

Although we cannot physically be with others, we can still stay socially connected. Simply having a shared experience can be beneficial.
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Talking to a counselor can also help you deal with your feelings of social isolation. Please reach out if you need help managing your anxiety, worry, or loneliness. 

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