Introduction
Terms like social distancing, social isolation, seclusion, and quarantine have become part of our everyday vocabularies since the onset of COVID-19. If you’re naturally an introvert, you may be more comfortable being alone or having limited social interactions, but miss the freedom of going to your favorite places. If you’re naturally an extrovert, you may be longing for social gatherings and face-to-face interactions.
While we can’t change the rules of engagement without risking the health and safety of others and ourselves, there are steps we can take to feel more connected with those we love and the world around us. This week, we will explore different strategies to do just that.
Expectations
- Spend at least 15 minutes per day on self-care, try for more if your schedule allows
- Limit your use of social media that is not direct communication (example: no scrolling Instagram or Twitter for hours)
- Complete at least one Exploration Activity per day
- Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day (this could be as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or a beginners yoga/stretching video on YouTube)
- Be respectful and positive to yourself and others
Goals
- Learn how to create meaningful connections during distancing/seclusion/quarantine.
- Learn how to overcome feelings of boredom and disconnection.
- Learn how to be comfortable when you’re alone with your thoughts and feelings.
Most people don’t think about themselves in terms of connection. After all, you are yourself, right? You know who you are, what you like and dislike, what you’re passionate about. But what happens when you suddenly have way more time to think about yourself in-depth? Do you start to think about your mistakes and embarrassing moments? Do you relive positive memories only to feel disappointed with the present? Let’s review some strategies and resources for how to get in touch with ourselves on a deeper level and make it work in our favor.
Introvert or Extrovert?
- Maybe you already know, maybe you don’t. Take this QUIZ to find out and be sure to read the description at the end.
- So, what does this mean? Quizzes like this don’t tell you who you are, but they give you the opportunity to explore why you’re uncomfortable with loneliness or why you’re less likely to seek out human interaction when stressed.
- Get comfortable in your own skin! Not sure how? Explore some tips here and here.
Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, and Self-Respect
- It’s All the Same! Self-esteem defined — Confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect.
- How to Get There: It’s time to show yourself some compassion, forgiveness, and love.
- How Does This Help with Isolation? We spend more time with ourselves than with anyone else. Improving our self-esteem, and not relying on others to feel good about ourselves, also leads to increased self-exploration and development.
Putting it All into Action
- Connect by Disconnecting: We can’t connect to ourselves if we’re always plugged in to distractions. Try a Digital Detox to focus during “you time.”
- Establish (& Maintain) a Routine: While this may sound like an overwhelming or daunting task, setting & keeping a routine makes your days smoother and less stressful. Start with a creating a morning routine and take it from there.
Things to Do
- Cabin Fever Symptoms & Coping Skills
- Get moving with these free online workouts
- Ever wanted to play the guitar? Fender has a free 3-month trial.
- Interested in learning a new language? Rosetta Stone is offering 3 months free to students and has memberships on sale at super low prices.
- Need more ideas? Look here.
More Helpful Information
Staying in contact with friends and family that you don’t live with is hard enough when there’s not a global pandemic. Between classes, homework, work, and other responsibilities, keeping in contact with loved ones can fall on the back burner.
Today we’ll explore some ways to stay connected with family and friends that are fun, easy, and not overly burdensome to anyone involved. Let’s start with the fun stuff!
Fun Times, Good Memories
It can be hard to create meaningful and lasting memories when you’re apart from loved ones. Thanks to the technology currently available to us, it’s a much easier task now than it was for past generations. Try some of these activities to get your circles together:
- Try Netflix Party for family movie night or a watch part with friends.
- Play an improve game like One Word Story, Convergence, or any of these.
- Or go for a classic game like Charades, Pictionary, or Scattergories.
- Have a karaoke competition or scavenger hunt.
Learn or Grow Together
Learning and personal growth don’t have to be boring, academic, solo endeavors. There are plenty of ways for you and your family or circle of friends to become better together. Think about:
- A TED Talk of the Week—watch together and process together afterwards.
- A discussion about a weird Wikipedia article while having breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
- Listen to an educational AND entertaining podcast together—it’s like a watch party for your ears.
- Revive the art of written correspondence—send old school letters to those you love. You can print postage from home by signing up for a free USPS
Talk About What Matters
Maybe you’ve been putting off important coronavirus talks with your kids or parents. Maybe you want to finally tell your friend how they upset you that one time and it’s still bugging you. Maybe it’s time to seek out online individual, couples, or family therapy. Whatever it is, there’s no time like the present, when everyone is literally a captive audience, to get some things resolved. Where to start:
- Are you concerned about friends or family that aren’t taking social distancing seriously? Here’s how to talk to them about it. Hint: it’s not by picking a fight.
- Nervous about talking to the children in your life about COVID-19? Whether you’re afraid of frightening them or just aren’t sure what to say, this article can walk you through the basics.
- Trying to live with your roommate without hating them? Let this guide help you avoid pitfalls and bad times.
Remember, there is no playbook for this. We are all learning what works for us and what doesn’t as we live through this experience. Be kind to yourself and to those you love and are close to.
Staying connected to your community can be especially difficult when you can’t get out into your community. Search social media for community groups and pages and get connected. Not sure where to start? Let’s explore the options that are out there.
Check in With Your Faith Community
Does your place of worship have a website? Does it need help from the community right now? Does your greater faith community have regular community events that may have moved online? Play detective and see what’s out there. Here are some examples to get you started:
- Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City Community Page
- Islamic Society of Wichita Home Page
- Catholic Diocese of Wichita Masses & Resources
- Community Christian Church Online
Be a Helper
There are several ways to stay engaged with and help your community (from home) during this chaotic time. Community organizations may need volunteers or donations. People who are unemployed due to stay-at-home orders may need help connecting with assistance. Below are some ideas:
- Give a shelter pet a forever home
- Find local people in need via Facebook or Nextdoor
- Volunteer or make masks for healthcare professionals. Can’t sew? No problem.
- Out-of-work bartender/server/delivery driver, artist or musician, or domestic help? Share these links with others or use them yourself.
Join a New Community
Do you have a hobby or topic that you’re passionate about? Are you absolutely in love with your major? Is there something you used to do every third Wednesday of the month? Just need a group of non-judgmental people to use as a sounding board? It’s easier than ever now to find your virtual tribe.
- Need to get things off your chest or out of your head in a safe and supportive community? Try downloading the Vent app for iPhone or Android.
- Love to read but don’t have anyone to talk books with? An online book club might be right for you.
- Are you a trivia buff? Miss showing off your knowledge of the random & obscure? Try online sites like Quiz Witz or Crowdpurr, or download an app.
- Join an InstaMeet or Google Group.
Being part of a community is not always determined by geography and location. It’s determined by collective interaction between people who share interests, beliefs, passions, and even identifying characteristics. Whatever group you (want to) belong to, having a sense of belonging is the third most important need humans have, after basic needs (like food and water) and safety.
Whether you love to travel the world, have never left your hometown/state, or anything in between, there’s a great big, beautiful world out there. Our ability to experience the world outside of our immediate surroundings is greater than ever, so get out there and EXPLORE!
See What the US Has to Offer
Get a group of friends (or family members) together and take a virtual tour of some of the nation’s greatest attractions, both natural and manmade. Check the internet to see if there are any printable activities that go along with the tour and compare your experiences.
- The National Park Service describes the Carlsbad Caverns: “High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife — treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert [New Mexico]. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.”
- Visit NYC and tour Central Park, the fifth largest, but most famous, park in New York.
- Relax with the beautiful, flowing movements of sea life at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Love museums? Explore the Field Museum Chicago or the Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
Be a (Virtual) Globetrotter
Record your worldly travels by creating your own (unofficial) passport at home. Print it or keep it electronically. Travel solo or bring a friend along. Take turns choosing locations to broaden your options. Suggestions:
- See one of the Seven Wonders of the World by visiting the Great Pyramids in Egypt. No sunscreen needed.
- Explore priceless works of art in Paris at the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay.
- Feel like royalty wandering around Buckingham Palace in London.
- Walk the Great Wall of China or see it in an amazing 360
Walk on the Wild Side
Have the past two days been a little “people heavy” for you? Do you miss trips to the zoo or wildlife park? Luckily, you can get your “aww” fix online in a number of places!
- Visit any of these zoos online: Kansas City, San Diego, Cincinnati, or Houston.
- Do you have a greater interest in marine animals? Check out the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
- Or, is there a particular type of animal you love, like Pandas, Eagles, Wolves, or Farm Animals.
Whichever approach you choose, you’re sure to feel less isolated and confined after experiencing more than your immediate surroundings. Even getting out in your yard or walking around the neighborhood (which are great for getting out of the house) may seem monotonous and redundant after a while. Even a few minutes of a virtual tour can provide hours of cabin fever relief.
This week we’ve gotten in touch with ourselves, our closest circles, the communities around us, and other parts of the country and world. We crammed a lot into the past 4 days. As intensive as this seems, hopefully all of the exploration has given you ideas, strategies, and activities for coping with feelings of isolation during these strange times. Try to do at least a couple of the activities you learned about here (or your own!) every week. Schedule a regularly occurring event you can always count on and look forward to. Like we said before: there is no playbook for what we’re all going through, the best we can do is support each other and try new things.
From us at Care Team, thank you!