This unprecedented time in my 36 year history has me questioning a lot of things lately. I’ll be 100% transparent here, I am an extrovert that thrives on social interaction. Just the thought of social distancing gives me a panicky-trapped feeling deep down inside. Now, I’m not telling you this to be whiny, to incite fear, or to say I don’t agree with social distancing. I am telling you this because for me (and likely many others) the thought of being unable to interact with my community in person for an indeterminable amount of time is unnerving! Social media has its place and I do enjoy my virtual friends, but getting into a room with my people and having real face to face interactions is life giving. So what do I do now that I can’t? What do we do to keep our community alive and thriving in the midst of isolation? 

Community is very important to me, sharing humorous and challenging parenting moments with friends fills me up and I enjoy getting out of the house and into the world. If my everyday routines come to a halt and I am now faced with creating a ‘new normal’ for my family, am I truly capable of doing that day in and day out without leaving my neighborhood? Can I do this with a positive attitude and a shining smile? Can I stay sane during the process?  I started feeling curious about the effects of social isolation and what it means long term for people who experience it. My research led me to an article on Science Direct from ‘The Lancet’ about social disconnectedness and perceived isolation, here is a quote directly from that article:

“According to theories of perceived isolation, the need for social connectedness is a deeply ingrained human characteristic that has evolved hand in hand with neural, hormonal, and genetic mechanisms directly associated with bonding, companionship, and herd behaviour as a crucial means for ensuring survival and reproduction. As a consequence, overwhelming feelings of isolation or the loss of social relations has been shown to have implications for the decline in cognition, mood, and sensitivity to threat, alongside a buildup of cortisol concentrations, worsening immune functioning, sleep disruption, and increased bodyweight.”

After reading this, it started to make complete sense to me that my feelings of anxiety, panic and stress about life being so suddenly disrupted are valid. What’s more concerning is that these feelings are the exact thing that will contribute to a worsening immune system in a time when health is our number one priority… what an irony! 

Again, I ask, what do we do to increase a sense of community at a time like this when we are so clearly in need of it but can’t physically be in it? I want to do everything I can to slow this pandemic but I also want to continue living my life and staying positive in the face of it. Not only for me, but for my children and my husband… clearly, worrying will not do anyone any good so while it’s important to be cautious, I think it's equally important to be creative in how we approach these next few days, weeks and months. 

I’ve put together a list of creative ways to stay connected during this time of social distancing- I would love to hear how you are finding ways to connect with your community while also following health protocols. Drop a comment below! Thank you for reading! 

6 Creative way to stay connected: 

Virtual Play Dates- Facetime, Google Hangouts or Zoom, are all great ways of getting daily face to face interactions with your peeps! Invite a friend to a virtual playdate and have your kids perform ‘minute to win it’ challenges for each other- This will surely lead to lots of laughter which is so good for the soul! Or you could try telling spooky stories or fairy tales under a blanket fort with a flashlight for dramatic effect. 

Virtual Wine Dates- This one is for the adults! A few of my mom friends have set up post bedtime wine dates on Zoom so that we can still talk about our struggles in real time while also enjoying a much earned glass of wine. Zoom is free and you can host several people in a chat for up to 40 minutes (of course if you know someone with a paid account then it’s unlimited ;-D) **This could easily be a coffee date as well! 

Calling Relatives or Friends- Make a list of 10 people you haven’t spoken with in a while and then set aside time each day to call them! Think of how happy grandma or aunt Edna will be when you just randomly call to check in on them. I’ve made a list of girlfriends I haven’t talked to in a while that I will be calling… and I promise, if you randomly call me, I will be so happy to hear from you! Oh and one little rule… do your best to keep it positive- remember our immune systems! 

Start an Online Book Club- We’ve now got loads of time ahead of us so why not pick a book you’ve been wanting to read and inviting a few friends to join you? And yes, Audible counts ;) Just start an email, text thread or facebook group to get it going… easy peasy! Click here for Oprah’s Bookclub picks.

Workout Accountability Partners- Since our health is the number one priority right now, pick a friend to check in with and set goals with daily. Challenge each other to 20 push-ups or burpees, a 60 minute walk or bike ride with the kids, a yoga video (here’s a link to my favorite You Tube yogi), a jog around the block… anything that will add fun and movement to your day! Oh and send pics for proof! 

Project Challenge- Come up with a simple building, cooking, or art project and invite your friends (FB & IG friends count too!) to complete the project by a certain date. Then have everyone share photos of their finished projects- this collaboration will lead to a real sense of community with others. Your kiddos will have fun seeing what their friend’s made and then you can compare and contrast how alike and different we all are. Project Ideas: Backyard sidewalk chalk mural, Lego bridge, cardboard bridge, wooden table, cardboard celebrity cutouts, mosaics, cake decorating, creative snack, playdough city, herb garden containers, homemade bird feeders… the ideas are endless! 

Mental Health Check ins- This one is a must! Choose a person to check in with regularly when you start feeling scared, worried, listless or withdrawn. Be open about your struggles with the purpose of venting and then allow that trusted friend to do the same. Then take turns coming up with new ideas or creative ways to pull out of the slump… it’s totally okay to feel a variety of emotions, just be sure you are checking in with yourself and making time to address your own personal needs. Friends are great for lifting you up when you need a reminder of how wonderful you are. 

Remember positivity, creativity, and community are all immune boosters! I sincerely hope that this list gave you some helpful and realistic tips on how to create a sense of community while we navigate this current phase of social distancing. Wishing you health, happiness and a whole lot of love! 

XOXO,

Jenn

PS~I know we will come out of this fog a little stronger and little more prepared- life will go back to normal and this will all be a memory soon enough. Ultimately, I am thankful for extra time with my family and the opportunity to think more creatively about our current events.

Questions? Ideas? Helpful Feedback? Drop it below in the comments!