In good times, connecting with others is something we tend to take for granted. Even when we are not actively engaged in making a connection, just being around other people is good for our mental health. Whether it be having conversations with your neighbors, laughing with your friends over cocktails, enjoying a date night with your significant other, shopping with your bestie, enjoying a cup of joe at your local coffee shop, or going to a movie; many of us are missing the social connections we once enjoyed.
Luckily, there are many tools available that allow us to connect virtually from the comfort and safety of our own home.
Here is a list of fun ways you can stay connected without leaving your home:
1. For The Book Lovers:
- Join The Quarantine Book Club: You can join your favorite authors on Zoom for $5 per ticket per book discussion.
- Start your own book discussion group for FREE. There are many ways to do this. You can set up a Facebook group and invite your friends to join. You can chat live within the group or participate asynchronously at your own leisure. Facebook messenger also allows video calls with up to 50 participants and allows up to six people to stream video simultaneously.
- If you want to video chat with more people, you can host up to 100 participants for FREE with a Basic Zoom account. Keep it short—Zoom limits these meetings to 40 minutes
2. For The Happy Hour Fans:
- Why not host a virtual happy hour? Grab a friend or friends and your favorite cocktail and connect via Facebook Messenger Video Chat, Google Hangouts, or WhatsApp.
- Swap mocktail and cocktail recipes with your friends when you meet to cheers
3. For The Fitness Buffs:
- Grab the whole family and try a virtual Zumba Class with local Zumba Instructor Kelly Barbour on Facebook Live. The best part about this? You won’t be embarrassed if you mess up the moves.
- Josh Wood and his team from Crossfit Collective are offering daily workouts on their Facebook page as well as workout videos you can do from home.
- Wayne Mutata of I:Train Studios is offering online training during COVID-19.
- Check out our virtual workouts roundup article for a larger listing of workout opportunities
4. For the Dancing Machines:
- Get together with some friends via Zoom and host a virtual dance party. Put on some uplifting music and shake your groove thing.
- If you are a professional dancer, why not host a dance party and teach your friends a few moves?
- Check out this Online 5-minute dance party from Theresa Fackler, owner of EnVision Life/Train on Zoom.
5. For The Movie Goers:
- Host a virtual watch party of your favorite movie or TV show.
- Make it a sitcom or a comedy to keep it lighthearted and fun. Hearing your friends laugh along with you at the funny parts is a surefire way to lift your spirits.
Want to share how you’re staying connected during these times of social distancing? Tag us on social with @susquehannastyle.
