How to Stay Connected to Yourself and Loved Ones During Uncertain Times

With social distancing and the #StayAtHome movement, now is the time to stay connected to family and friends in new and unique ways, while remembering to take care of yourself, too.

These are strange days, indeed. Who could have imagined on New Year’s Eve in December 2019 that in the first quarter of 2020, there would be a terrifying global pandemic with a #StayAtHome movement, that people would be quarantined and self-quarantined, and that the government would be issuing shelter-in-place orders? And, not to mention that many individuals and families are suffering all over the world.

It’s very easy to become inundated with the scary charts and ever-increasing numbers of those affected by the virus, and with frightening updates about the people in our world occurring all day long. The CDC urges us to check in on our mental states during this time by taking “breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media;” remembering to take care of ourselves through exercise, meditation, eating healthy, and sleeping properly; making time to unwind; and by staying connected with others.

Forbes and BBC offer similar advice and provide additional suggestions like being cautious about what information you choose to read, remembering to utilize reliable sources; keeping things in perspective; creating a routine; and, of course, staying connected. So, exactly how do we stay connected to ourselves, our family, and our friends during a global pandemic when most of us are staying home? Here are just a few suggestions.

Stay Connected with Yourself and Family at Home

Here’s a list of things to do on your own or together.

• Cleaning: Ugh! But, this is the perfect time to sort through closets and drawers, and to make your place sparkling clean (and sterilized)!
• Catching up: Time to go through that pile of magazines, to-do lists, stacks of old pictures, collectibles, and scrap books.
• Going Outside: Go for walks (if allowed), play, watch the birds, take pictures, breathe, and relax.
• Healthiness: Begin practicing a healthy diet and developing an exercise routine.
• Learning and Experiencing: Take online courses, watch cooking videos, experiment with new recipes, order new foods online, try new-to-you restaurants via food delivery services, take virtual tours of national parks and museums, and even participate in a free 21-Day Meditation Experience with Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra.
• Movies: Streaming! Popcorn! Binge watching! Plus, some recent theatrical releases, like The Gentlemen and Onward, are or will be available for early, on-demand viewing. And, some theaters, like Nightlight Cinema in Akron, Ohio, are offering online screening rooms for at-home viewing of movies that would normally be playing onscreen, while the small, unique theater remains closed as part of the response to the coronavirus outbreak.
• Music: Stream, discover new tunes, and take advantage of the availability of live virtual concerts.
• Puzzles: Dig out or order a challenging jigsaw puzzle. For a bigger challenge, put the puzzle box away, so you’re left only to your own wits to assemble a jumbled, complex image.
• Reading: All the books you’ve ordered online over the years are calling your name!
• Writing: The time has arrived to start writing that novel or keeping a journal.

• Virtual Movies: Have a Netflix Party! It’s new, and it’s real. (#QuarantineAndChill is the new #NetflixAndChill.) Watch movies with friends at the same time while in different locations, all while participating in a group chat. Why not?
• Virtual Celebrations: If a birthday or anniversary occurs during this time, send a series of cards or multi-day gifts, such as a gift a day for 12 days, and open together via Zoom over a glass of wine or cup of tea. Or, simply send cards and gifts “just because” you can’t be together.

Let us know how you are staying connected with yourself, your friends, and your family. We love hearing your stories!