Social Distancing without Social Isolation
One month ago, many of us were living our regular lives, going to work, going to school, hanging out with friends, and sharing memes about how much we wish we could be at home with our pets all day, how much we enjoy when plans are canceled last minute, and an overwhelming desire to just hunker down.
Social distancing without social isolation
This past weekend, was a huge turning point, at least here in New York, for how important social distancing is and how concerned we really should be regarding the spread of the coronavirus. So here we are, we’re four days in to life (for those deemed “non-essential”) being canceled. Schools are closed, employees are working from home, businesses are closing their doors, and outside, even in my busy Queens neighborhood, is quiet.
And now that we’re all home and we don’t know when we’ll be able to be together again, what does that mean for us? How does that play out long term?
For those among us who live at home, there’s a very real danger of feeling or becoming isolated. Isolation has been shown time and time again to exacerbate depression and anxiety. In fact, with the exception of slowing the spread of disease (which is hugely important), isolation has few other benefits.
SO short of anthropomorphizing a volleyball a la Tom Hanks in Castaway, how can you avoid becoming isolated when you are supposed to be distancing?
1. Use your technology. Call your friends! If you have regular standing dates with friends, keep them but turn them virtual. For example, if you have a regular coffee break on Wednesdays at 2pm, on Wednesday at 2pm, make your coffee (or café beverage of choice) and hop on facetime with them, or text them a photo and have a conversation.
2. Netflix and other streaming services have rolled out features that allow you to have watch parties. Use them! If you have regular movie nights, get everyone together in the app and watch together! Even if you don’t have regular movie nights, use them anyway.
3. Pull out your stationary and write a nice old fashioned letter. It gives you an opportunity to process out some feelings with a trusted friend (or a new friend! There are a million pen-pal groups online).
4. As long as we’re still allowed outside, try to take a little walk. You don’t have to walk 500 miles, but a little walk around your block and actually SEEING other human beings can be a nice reminder that you’re not alone and we’re all doing this together.
5. Join community facebook groups. I know the world is split on their feelings of Facebook, but the community specific groups (also Next Door is another platform) can also keep you clued in to how people are doing and a reminder that you are part of something larger.
All of this said, don’t feel like you HAVE to do these things every single day. It is perfectly fine to take some of this time to be alone with your own thoughts. Pick up a journal, try a new hobby you’ve been interested in, read a book, ponder the secrets of the universe. It’s okay to just do one of these once a week to help stay connected.
If you’re struggling with the additional stress that is coming out of this uncertain time and you need additional support. I’m still here and I’m happy to set up virtual sessions with you! Click the button below to get started.