The United States declared a national emergency due to COVID-19 in March 2020.
There has been an estimated number of 11.6 million cases in the U.S. and more than 56.6 million confirmed cases in the world.
With all the restrictions when it comes to social gatherings, it’s hard to stay connected with friends and family. But there are creative ways you can connect with your loved ones while following social distancing rules.
If you’re feeling lonely–you don’t have to. Here are five ways to connect with friends during the pandemic.
1. Start a Virtual Book Club
For the bookworms out there, you and your friends could start a virtual book club. Or, maybe you’ve been wanting to get into reading–this is a great way to start.
You can virtually meet together once a month. During the meeting, you can discuss the book you’ve read, vote for the next book, and have snacks all from the comfort of your home.
Although virtual meetings are definitely not the same as in-person meetings, there are some benefits to meeting online. It’s from the comfort of your own home, so you can stay in your PJs or loungewear.
What’s more, it’s easier to make it to the meeting especially for those flaky friends who always cancel last minute.
2. Play Games Together Online
Another option to connect with friends is to play video games together online. By playing games in an arcade online, you can have fun and connect with friends.
Playing games online is also a good option if you have friends that live on the opposite end of the country. You can also make new friends through online gaming.
There are so many options for online gaming. You can play old school games online such as virtual board games or online chess.
3. Call Your Friends
It’s something we don’t usually do these days since we are used to texting friends or connecting with them through social media. However, if you want to connect with a friend, you can pick up the phone and call or video call that friend.
Since many of us are staying home these days, we are finding more time to do things that we normally never had the time to do.
We’re reconnecting with our family members. We are picking up hobbies such as baking, reading, or crafting. Why not reconnect with a longtime friend through a phone call.
4. Join a Virtual Workout Class
If you’ve been wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle and get in shape, you can join an online workout class with some friends.
You can do live online classes together. There are plenty of options for online classes ranging from pilates to yoga to full body workouts.
5. Take a Virtual Art Class
Another fun option to stay connected is by taking an online art class. You can take an online guided paint class together. You can pick up the supplies and then paint at home.
You don’t need to be an artist to take these classes, they are good for beginners too. It’s fun to share your artwork with your friends afterwards.
Read More: 5 Tips To Stay Healthy While Vacationing During a Pandemic
Final Thoughts on How to Connect With Friends During the Pandemic
The year 2020 has been a challenging year, and it’s easy to feel lonely and disconnected. However, the above tips are some of the ways we can connect with friends and still feel a sense of community.
Want to read more advice and life tips? Check out more articles in our blog.
