Rebuilding Community After Quarantine
Though no one could have anticipated it, COVID-19 impacted the world by force and turned the lives of millions of people upside down. Suddenly, the activities and opportunities that we, especially as Americans, have taken for granted were swept away from us. In a society that is currently in the throws of a virus that has hit us harder than any other virus in over a century, we have had to learn to make-do without these certain privileges we’d grown accustomed to and had to alter our lives in a way that makes the world a safer place for everyone at the moment. One of those ways included quarantining away from friends and extended family in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Now that restrictions are being lifted and people are starting to venture out into the world, here are some ways that you can continue to keep yourself and others safe while regaining that sense of community and connection that might have been during this unprecedented period of isolation.
Check In On Your Friends
Staying cooped up inside your house with nobody but your pets and roommates to converse with can lead you to forget that there are people that exist outside your new social circle! Though it might not be as fun or exciting as going on a beach day with friends or going out to the movies, sending a friend or a loved one a simple text asking them how they’re holding up in quarantine is just as meaningful and lets them know you’re still thinking of them, even if you can’t be together in real life. People deal with isolation in a variety of ways, and you may never know that someone who is isolating might just be waiting for your text to lift their day up.
Hang Out In Open Spaces
Perhaps you’re just itching to get out of the house and your state has lifted restrictions enough that visiting the outside world is safe and allowed. Hanging out with friends doesn’t mean you have to throw large parties or participate in activities that make social distancing impossible. Now is the perfect time to get out in nature, which allows you to stay six feet apart from others while showing an appreciation for all the beauty your state’s environment has to offer. With the Jetzy App, you can discover the perfect outdoor locations to visit with your friends! Whether that be going to the beach, having a picnic in the park, or hiking through mountains, Jetzy can help you find plenty of ways to spend quality time with the people you care about while remaining safe!
Get Together Through Video Chat
The beauty of the society that we currently live in is that we’re technologically advanced to the point that there are ways to stay connected without even having to leave our homes! Though communicating through the internet could never replace the valuable connection one gets through seeing others in real life, it can work as a great substitute for when hanging out in real life poses health risks. Video chatting has become a popular form of virtual communication in recent years with the development of Facetime, Skype and Zoom, and now with quarantine, it has become almost our main way of communicating these days. With video chatting, you can connect with any friends you want, whether they live near or far. Get creative with your get togethers and watch movies together, host virtual game nights, read books, play trivia, or simply catch one another up on how you’re handling quarantine. Just because you can’t see each other in real life, doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun with friends online. Though it might require a little creativity, the possibilities truly are limitless!
Use Time Alone to Reflect
At the end of the day, the point of quarantining is to stay isolated from others as much as possible. Though it can be hard during these times to feel connected with others, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone and that we’re all in this together. We’re all quarantining to keep each other safe, and so in a way, one could think of isolation as a giant group effort. In these times where we are physically alone with nobody to face but ourselves and our own problems, it is a good idea to reflect on aspects of our lives that we may not have had time to confront while being busy out and about in the world before COVID-19. You might use this time to discover a new hobby, or find that you want to work on your spiritual or personal growth. Perhaps you could reflect on how much you love your friends and family, how much you appreciate them, and know that when you do eventually get to spend time with them again, you will feel much more appreciative of and connected to them than you ever have before.
Jetzy is a global social network that connects and rewards people who enjoy travel and unique lifestyle experiences. To find out more useful local tips for travel, check out: https://www.jetzyapp.com/
