Having positive friendships, relationships and social connections plays an important part in looking after our wellbeing. With self-isolation and social-distancing measures in place we can really start to feel the loss of human contact, which can have a negative impact on our mood.
As it looks like we are moving into a further period of social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to try and maintain contact with friends and family.
It’s also important to create space and time to stay connected with ourselves.
Virtual meet ups with family and friends
In the absence of being able to see your friends and family in person, a video call could help to bridge the gap. Scheduling a regular catch-up can give you both something to look forward to and helps to add structure to your day.
There are a number of free apps and websites that allow you to stay in touch with friends and family using any kind of mobile phone, computer, laptop, or tablet.
These include:
- WhatsApp – this app can be used for texting, voice calls, video calls, sending pictures and videos, and voice messages
- Messenger can be used for texting, voice calls, and video calls – it can also be used to play games and send pictures, videos, and voice messages
- Skype can be used for voice and video calls, as well as online chat and sending pictures and files
- Zoom can be used for voice and video calling – you can invite people to join you on a video call by sending them a link
Social media
Social media can help you stay connected with friends and family during this difficult time, but it can also cause you to feel more stressed. Make sure to take regular breaks from social media so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Advice on staying safe and mentally well while using social media can be found on the Young Minds site.
Other ways to stay in touch
There are other ways to stay connected if you’d like to take a break from the internet.
- Try writing a letter to someone you haven’t seen in a while, or sending a postcard.
- Even just picking up the phone and calling someone for a chat is great for your mental wellbeing and will help both of you to feel less alone while staying home.
It’s also good to have some light relief to talk and laugh about, and to share other things too. Use technology to get creative.
- From virtual pop quizzes, to live streamed exercise classes – the possibilities are endless.
- Set up a coffee and cake catch-up or, if you don’t drink coffee, a soft drink and snacks get together.
- Play games such as video games, board games and charades online with your friends too.In this time of uncertainty, lots of people find connection by sharing the small and simple pleasures of life. For example, send each other:
- links to music
- uplifting photos
- snaps of what you’re getting up to at home
- funny memes, jokes and videos
Take time to talk
It’s natural to feel a range of emotions at the moment. Sharing how you’re feeling with each other can help you to better understand and manage the way you feel. By talking about your feelings, you might find you’re able to share different ways of thinking about things and gain a different perspective. You might also feel less alone in how you feel and gain useful advice from people you trust.
- Check in on friends and family at set times of the day. The mornings might be a good time for this if you find it particularly tough waking up to the reality of the situation.
- Starting your day chatting to a friend or family member can put you in a positive mood.
- Talk about coronavirus if you want to, but also agree to talk about other things too.
Listen to each other
It’s equally important to listen to one another. You can provide a lot of comfort by listening with compassion and understanding.
- Remember to give each other space to talk.
- Try not to jump in or offer a solution too quickly.
Creating space for yourself
If you’re sharing a house with people, you might find yourself becoming more irritable or snappy. You’re probably not used to spending so much time together and it can be a little overwhelming.
You may also be finding that your caring role has increased or you are worrying more about the person you care for and it is important that you find time to do the things that you like to do.
Plan to spend time together and time apart, so you can find a balance. You might want to have a family meeting to agree on boundaries or create a safe place where people can go when they need time to themselves.
Thinking about these measures together will help you to avoid squabbles and everyone can have some time and space for themselves.
