Anxiety During the Coronavirus: Part 12, Socializing During Social Distancing
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Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash
This is a guest blog by Patrick B. McGrath, Ph.D., Head of Clinical Services, NOCD www.TreatmyOCD.com
Hey, I still like you - just at a distance.
Social distancing is sure in vogue these days. Keep six feet away and wear a mask and wash your hands and do not get overwhelmed with the ever changing news landscape and on and on and on.
While social distancing may be good for us in terms of viral transmission, it is surely not that great for us when it comes to the fact that humans are social animal, and we have been asked to go against what just feels natural for us - to be social. So, how do we approach social distancing in a social way? Here are some ideas:
1. Get out of the house. You can still go for a walk, wave at the neighbors, put funny signs in their yards, or leave fun messages on their sidewalks with chalk.
2. Have a cookout with the neighbors, with each of you remaining in your respective yards. No need to share food, but you could at least sit on the opposite sides of the fence and chat and enjoy a meal together.
3. Order a meal and have it sent to a friend as a surprise.
4. Call one person a day to have at least fifteen minutes of social time.
5. Write a letter once a week to someone - it will make their day to get some mail that is not just bills.
6. Do a meeting on a social media platform and make it social - not just for work.
7. If you have supplies in your home for a rainy day project, looks like now might be a great time to do that project and share the daily updates with friends and family and get comments and suggestions from them on-line.
8. One friend of mine has brought her electric piano out on her porch and has been doing outdoor concerts for people in her neighborhood. Know how to play an instrument? Give a free concert.
9. In Colorado at 8:00 PM there are neighborhoods where everyone goes out and howls like wolves. Organize a fun neighborhood activity like this in your neighborhood.
10. In Chicago there was a city wide singing of a Bon Jovi song one evening. See if you can organize a city event like this.
Just because we are not able to be physically together does not mean we cannot be social - we just have to be creative in how we do it. All the best to everyone.
Patrick B. McGrath, Ph.D.
Head of Clinical Services, NOCD