Connecting While Social Distancing

Right now we’re hearing a lot about social distancing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) official definition of social distancing is “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gathering, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible. The good news is social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation. In fact, the very act of social distancing in order to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 is actually a great act of social solidarity.

The question “How do we take care of our social needs while practicing social distancing?” will require us to expand how we think about social connection and increase the ways we stay connected as friends, family, colleagues, neighbors and community.  Below are four steps you can take to prepare for and stay connected during the COVID-19 contagion.

1. Accentuate the positive.

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How we decide to think about things often sets the tone for how we feel about things. If we focus on being forced into social distancing we may start to feel a lack of control and a sense of powerlessness and helplessness. However, if we focus on the things we can do we gain a sense of empowerment.

2. Prepare

The endless news stories and new developments flooding our televisions and social media accounts is anxiety provoking for sure.  Taking action is a great way to reduce anxiety. Developing a schedule that resembles the daily rhythm of life before social distancing helps provide us with a sense of routine and normalcy. Structuring our days by getting up at the same time as usual, preparing for the day ahead, eating meals around the same as before, creating a space to work, setting aside time to play, and maintaining our regular sleep cycles are just a few ways to maintain a sense of control over our lives.

3. Connect

Brené Brown said, “Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social disconnection.” Below are some ideas to stay connected while making a conscious and collective effort to reduce close contact between ourselves.

  • Set aside time daily to Facetime family.

  • Create virtual coffee dates with colleagues.

  • Set-up group calls with friends to watch your favorite shows.

  • Take an online class.

  • Create a virtual book club.

  • Start an online community to share your experiences, information, and resources.

  • If you’re living alone consider asking a friend to move in with you for a while.

  • Organize a cookout with your neighbors where you all fire up your grills at the same time and talk to each other from your yards or balconies.

  • During dinnertime, Skype friends or family and share a meal together while you talk about your day.

  • If you play a musical instrument, open your windows and play for your neighbors.

  • Attend religious and spiritual services online.

  • Spend quality time with your family by allowing each person to choose an activity that the entire family can participate in.  

  • Consider video-chatting with a friend or family member where you leave the video up for a couple of hours.  This will allow you to spend time together while intermittently chatting with each other as though you lived together in the same space.

  • Spend time in nature and hug a tree.

 

4.  Practice mindfulness.

Take time to connect to yourself.  Practice self-care.  Meditate, read, relax, unplug from social media for a few hours.

Taking care of yourself also includes taking care of your mental health.  If you need a professional to talk to but are concerned about venturing out, consider telnet sessions with a licensed therapist.

Finally, remember, this outbreak won’t last forever.  By taking some time to prepare for the upcoming weeks, focusing on what you can control and seeking out new ways to stay connected we’ll successfully get through this together.  

Tricia Smith,

Graduate Intern

                 

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A Letter to Our Community