Physical distancing and regular mask-wearing have reduced the spread of the coronavirus, but these prevention behaviors have made it especially challenging to stay in touch with loved ones outside our homes. Lucky for us, there are accessible devices and applications that can help us communicate with others. (To learn more about online communication platforms, click here.) Here are some unique ideas that can help you stay connected with your family and friends:
Schedule a virtual dinner date. See when your family and friends are available to share dinner - virtually! Order some takeout/delivery or cook your own meal. Plan to discuss the flavors and textures while eating with the group. Or, you can share and cook the same recipe! Cooking demonstration, anyone? For even more fun, create a dinner theme! Talking only about the pandemic can be draining. Find some conversation starter prompts online prior to the dinner "date" or purchase a deck of intimacy cards to facilitate deeper conversations.
Host an online movie night. Get together with family or friends and watch a new or classic movie. Rent a movie through a streaming service (e.g., Amazon, Vudu) or through Redbox. Using an online communication platform, you can screenshare so everyone can watch and react at the same time. Don't forget to cook some microwaveable popcorn and gather other delicious movie treats! If you don't want to screenshare, you can position your device(s) next to you to feel like your family or friend is sitting next to you!
Host a fitness class. Some people enjoy the gym environment and spirit of group fitness classes, but we can recreate that energy at home! Invite your friends to move with you from their homes while streaming a class live through an online platform. Support local gyms or studios by streaming their exercise classes - for free or a small fee - or find a video on YouTube to screen-share. Don't forget to start with some stretches! Change the type of movement each week and ask your friends to select the class/video. Offer options such as dance cardio, yoga, strength training, pilates, Zumba, or interval training.
Create a family playlist. Music can bring people together! If you use Spotify to listen to music, create a collaborative playlist and share the link with your family and friends. Everyone can add their favorite songs, stand-up comedy routines, and podcasts for all to enjoy. To make a new playlist from the Spotify application, click "Create Playlist". Once created and named, click "More" (the 3 dots) near the top of the page and select "Collaborative playlist". Under the "More" tab, you will find the "Share" option. From there, you can copy the link and share with your family and friends! Not sure where to start? Explore existing playlists on Spotify for inspiration and add a few of your favorite songs before sharing. Welcome a variety of music and podcasts to the playlist: more genres keep listeners engaged!
Schedule check-in calls with family and friends. Even as the pandemic begins to normalize and people are returning to their pre-COVID lives, some of us still remain at home. Show that you care by reaching out to loved ones and make a point to follow up when you both have the time. If your loved ones appear distressed, use/direct them to our mental health resource page. If you can't accommodate a conversation in real-time, send video messages or use a free video conversation application such as Marco Polo.
Page contributions by: Betsy Rodriguez, B.S. (University of Arizona MEZCOPH Alumnus)
