We’ve got the CDC telling us to stay away from each other but studies are telling us that loneliness is worse for your health than obesity.
But thanks to technology, and some basic good practices, there are still ways we can connect with others without putting each other at risk. Here’s some examples:
- Face-to-face from afar. Video chatting may not be exactly the same as face-to-face interaction, but it’s pretty close. Seeing people’s facial cues and body language is important for bonding so FaceTime maybe your best option to avoid feeling alone. For example, try having a digital dinner with someone you met on a dating app, a virtual happy hour with friends or a remote book club meeting.
- One-minute kindness. Stop scrolling every once in a while and send a friend a few kind words. We can’t kill the coronavirus with kindness but a little bit might help everyone get through these anxiety-filled days a little easier.
- Deepen or broaden. There are two ways to overcome loneliness: nurture your existing relationships or make new ones. You could use your self-quarantine time to get ahold of a family member you’ve lost touch or join a digital community that shares an interest with you.