Combating Loneliness During Social Isolation
The world is a crazy place right now....I was planning on writing a few posts about my recent trip to Mexico during Spring Break, but when I returned to the states I arrived at a deserted campus with hardly a soul in sight. Everyone had gone home or has hunkered down in self (mandatory?) social isolation. Many plans were canceled, friends I hoped to meet up with are now in different states, contra dancing has been postponed, classes have gone online (with many mishaps already), and the future remains uncertain.
I'm writing this on a Saturday, and it definitely does not feel like a Saturday. Nevertheless, I'm trying to keep some normalacy in my life and retain some sort of schedule, part of which includes my (ir)regular attempts of blogging over the weekend. So here's a quick post about ways to help break up the monotony life has become (monotonous at least for us students who are now doing everything from the comforts of home or small dorms in our nearly empty dorms).
First of all, I hope everyone’s doing well and staying safe and healthy. I know social isolation is gonna be tough for a lot of us and finding ways to stay connected is more important than ever. Thankfully, we live in an age with phones, internet, video-face calling, and more technology available worldwide than there ever has been before.
This will all come to pass, but in the moment it can be scary to deal with all of the uncertainty in the world and how everyone is reacting to the situation. A lot of changes are happening right now and I’m not sure how to deal with everything but I’m glad that even though we may be apart we are not alone. Below is a list of some things to help combat boredom and loneliness while we are all separated. Please share these resources and tips with anyone you think would appreciate it.
Resources for dealing with these changes:
Some possibilities to help combat boredom:
Get a group of old/new friends and have a Photo Challenge. Each week one or two people can pick a challenge for the group to do, send photos to a group album everyone can access! Some ideas include:
Best/worst baby pic
Weirdest thing in your house
Inspirational quotes/messages
Cook/Bake Challenge
Everyone tries the same recipe and then compare results.
Get outside!
What's the best hiking trail in your area?
The top touristy place in your town that you love?
Have a pup? Take the pooch for a walk! (They'll love you even more)
Get Crafty
Try some skill or hobby you've always wanted to be never 'had the time' to do. Pick up some yarn and try knitting or crocheting.
Make music! Have an instrument laying around somewhere? If not, try learning a new one! No chance of an getting a fancy instrument? Use your voice or test out body percussion to make some sick beats!
My go to is always grabbing my paints and just sketching whatever comes to mind. You could definelty make this into a group challenge as well. Send out a text with some sort of theme like landscapes, botanicals, or abstract.
Move your body! Lots of places are moving classes online, including YogaIyengar Yoga who is now live streaming all their classes through Zoom. March is FREE YOGA MONTH for all college and college-age students.
Go for a walk outside
Try a free online HIIT workout
Check out some youtube workout videos you can do anywhere
Explore media
Book recommendations (from me and some friends, I still need to read a few of the suggestions on this list):
The Alchemist
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Educated by Tara
WestoverStation 11 by Emily St. John Mandel
The Miseducation of Cameron Post - by Emily M Danforth
Podcast recommendations:
Stuff You Missed in History Class
How I Built This (NPR)
Gastropod
Music recommendations:
The Weepies’ Be My Thrill Album
Movie/TV Show recommendations:
Old classics:To Kill a Mockingbird, Roman Holiday, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Casablanca
Notting Hill
4 Weddings and a Funeral
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Be Mindful
Try some of UVM’s online meditations
Journaling is a great way to sort through your emotions and get out anything hanging on your chest. Need some prompts?
Earth week (or month) is approaching soon, and you can still take part of the activities Eco-Reps is putting on---we're going virtual!
I hope these recourses help and that everyone is doing well. Though we are apart, we are still in this together.
I'll be writing about the Mexico trip I just went on soon, I just wanted to get this one up and out in the world before. Best wishes to the world.
-An Adventurous Aquarius