With the global issue of COVID-19, we’ve been given the instruction by our nation’s leaders and world health professionals to practice ‘social distancing’ for an undetermined amount of time.
With this unique instruction, we may easily become lost in the sudden change of pace that we may overlook and therefore neglect one of our most basic human needs…. social connection.
As human beings, we truly are hard-wired to connect with one another and for good reason too. “Social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and actually improve our immune systems (Canada Mental Health Association).” Research has even shown that a lack of social connection is an even greater detriment to our health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure (House et al., 1988). We need each other! Our physical and mental health depend on it. So while we are practicing social distancing, remember that maintaining social connection is paramount to our health. There are A LOT of ways to continue to build and strengthen our relationships. Here are just 30 ways I came up with.
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30 Ways to Strengthen your Relationships While Practicing Social Distancing:
Call a friend you’ve lost touch with
Film yourself reading a book and send it to the children in your life
Smile and wave from 6 feet away
Leave anonymous supply items around your neighborhood
Save money for a future outing or extravagant date
Write an inspirational post on social media
Use chalk to write words of encouragement around your neighborhood
Make plans for a future trip
Start a book club and meet via Zoom or Skype
Start a ‘COVID-19 Coping’ text chat with your friends and share ideas of how to make the most of this situation
Email your loved ones
Send a care package to someone who may be struggling
Deep clean/organize your space so when this quarantine business subsides, you’ll be ready to socialize
Ask your neighbors how they are doing and what you can do to help
Dress up nice and have an indoor date night
Try something new with a loved one – yoga, dancing, a new instrument…etc.
Learn a language you’ve always wanted to so you can make even more connections
Try a new recipe or cook an elaborate meal
Create a game tournament with prizes
Be active (indoor or outdoor)
Call a loved one and tell them a joke
Create a family or couple goal to work towards
Write letters to the elderly people in your life
Pray for your loved ones and their well-being during this difficult time
Practice creativity! Write a musical piece, sketch, paint, knit, sew, build…etc.
Turn up the tunes and have a dance party
Read a book together (to a child or with a loved one)
Camp indoors or in your backyard complete with a campfire and smores’
Send a text and check in on a friend
Highlight the positive and make daily contact with loved ones through social apps (MarcoPolo, Whatsapp..etc.)
Choose a creative way to strengthen your relationships each day this week.
References
Griffiths, R., Horsfall, J., Moore, M., Lane, D., Kroon, V., & Langdon, R. (2007). Assessment of health, well-being and social connections: A survey of women living in Western Sydney. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 13(1), 3–13. https://doi-org.erl.lib.byu.edu/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00606.x
House, Landis, Umberson (1988). Social Relationships and health Science. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Harbor. Vol. 241, Issue 4865, pp. 540-545 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3399889
Kobayashi, K. M., Cloutier-Fisher, D., & Roth, M. (2009). Making meaningful connections: A profile of social isolation and health among older adults in small town and small city, British Columbia. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(2), 374–397. https://doi-org.erl.lib.byu.edu/10.1177/0898264308329022
Thompson, T., Rodebaugh, T. L., Bessaha, M. L., & Sabbath, E. L. (2020). The association between social isolation and health: An analysis of parent–adolescent dyads from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study. Clinical Social Work Journal, 48(1), 18–24. https://doi-org.erl.lib.byu.edu/10.1007/s10615-019-00730-2
Shirley Anderson is a Utah native and the youngest of five children. She has been married to her sweetheart for three years, and together they have recently begun the journey of parenthood to a darling little girl and are currently living in Stuttgart, Germany. Shirley graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life and Human Development.
Choose a creative way to strengthen your relationships each day this week.
