6 Ways to Stay Connected While Social Distancing
This spring I read an article by Cecilia Menjívar, Jacob G. Foster and Jennie E. Brand about why calling this situation “social distancing” is a mistake, because it’s especially important to stay connected right now in a time full of unknowns. While we may be in distance learning, there’s nothing stopping us from finding fun activities to do with our friends from our homes. Here are a few ways you can stay socially connected while physically distancing!
#1 - Netflix Party/Movie Party
Netflix party is a fun way to watch movies with your friends without having to deal with the lag of screen sharing on a Zoom call! There’s a chat feature on the right side of the screen in addition to the movie so you don’t have to bother pausing the movie to text each other your reactions. There are also multiple streaming apps such as Kast where you can screen share a movie on any platform without a lag!
#2 - Become Pen Pals
Writing letters may seem outdated, but can be very calming and fun. I don’t know about you, but I always love getting mail, and because things are moving so quickly during quarantine, it’s fun to see what’s changed between the time that you write the letter and when your friend receives it.
#3 - Choose an Activity to do with Friends
Whether it be crossword puzzles or coloring pages, find something that can be “your thing” and whenever you think of it, text each other! It’s a fun way to keep in touch and create conversation even if you feel a little far away.
#4 - Start an iMessage Game Tournament
Playing Game Pigeon games is a great way to stay connected and get a little competitive, especially when many in-person sports can’t happen right now! They’re not too time-consuming and you can play them whenever it’s convenient for you. Personally, I know I could definitely use the practice at 8ball.
#5 - Set a Weekly Time to Connect
I’ve found that I’ve been unexpectedly busy during quarantine between schoolwork, school meetings, and extracurriculars that have tried to become virtual, but it’s more important now than ever to stay connected! Set a weekly time to FaceTime or Zoom with your friends; it’s always nice to take a break from all of your projects.
#6 - Make a Joint Playlist
Make a joint playlist with your friends and you can all listen to it! It’s a great way to bond,share music, and introduce your friends to new songs. It never hurts to mix it up a little bit! Plus, you might find you and your friends have more in common than you thought!
