Five Ways to Enhance Social Connection During the Pandemic

The research is clear, we do better emotionally when we are connected to others. Humans are, at our core, social beings; our very survival as a species necessitates that we affiliate and cooperate with others. The pandemic has interrupted our ability to connect in traditional ways. We can no longer meet for a meal, go to the movies, or hang out with our friends and families at our houses. However, people have become creative and flexible during the pandemic, finding new ways to connect, rekindling old friendships, and drawing upon older forms of connection. Here are five approaches people are using to feel connected during this isolating time.

1.     Use Digital Platforms to Connect with Others

Though certainly different from in-person gatherings, people are taking advantage of digital platforms to spend time together. These include video platforms such as the now famous Zoom, as well as Skype, Facetime, and Google Hangouts. Many social media sites, including Instagram and Facebook, have video capabilities built into their platforms. People are using these video platforms to connect one-on-one, as well as to hold celebrations, family and friend dinners, book clubs, and even dance parties.

There are also apps (MarcoPolo, for example) that allow people to send video messages. Other folks send each other voice memos. These options provide the opportunity to feel more connected than traditional texting and email without having to coordinate a specific time to get together.

 People have gotten creative and now have adapted social activities to digital platforms. There are websites that allow folks to play board games together to recreate game-nights, as well as apps and extensions (such as Teleparty) that allow friends and families to stream shows and movies simultaneously.

2.     Send a text, email, or letter

People have shared that they are also connecting digitally in a less formalized way over text. Texts are an easy, low effort way to just let someone know you are thinking of them (and maybe get a funny meme in return). Many people have started to send long-form emails to friends and families, allowing for deeper conversations on their own schedules. Others are sharing that they have enjoyed sending handwritten letters through snail mail and that it has been fun to receive something (other than bills and junk mail) in their mailboxes. In addition to creating the opportunity to connect, people who have been struggling with isolation have shared that sometimes receiving that text, letter, or email makes all the difference.  

 3.     Rekindle Old Friendships

Now is a great time to get in touch with that high school friend or person you have drifted apart from. Reconnecting with older friends can be easier than making new friends; you have a shared history and a base of trust that you can draw from. So, look through your phone contacts or scroll through your social media connections and see if there are any people you want to reconnect with.

 4.     Meetup groups and other online communities

Meetup groups (meetup.com) and other online communities allow people to organize get-togethers with others who share similar interests like sports, hiking, book clubs, happy hours, etc. A number of Meetup groups have adapted to be COVID friendly. For example, groups that may have held happy hours are moving the get togethers to Zoom. Other groups that focus on outdoor activities- such as running or hiking groups- have developed new protocols that aim to enhance safety. You may be able to meet new friends on a socially distanced and masked hike.

5.     Go outside

We have been hearing public health officials implore us to stick to outdoor gatherings for months; it is the safest way to socialize given the reduced risk for transmission, particularly when you and your peers stay masked and socially distanced. Activities like picnics in a park or backyard BBQs are complicated by winter weather. However, with the right gear, outdoor socializing is still manageable. Think layers- a base layer (long underwear), an insulating layer (like a fleece), and an outer layer such as a jacket or wind breaker. Don’t forget to grab a hat, warm socks, scarf, and a set of gloves. Winter is also a great time to walk or hike with peers, which can give you the opportunity to get in some exercise, stay warm, and catch up.