It took longer than it should have, but people (and governments) around the world are finally starting to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. Huge numbers of the global population are now beginning the stage of ‘social distancing’ and so it is important to consider how to look after our mental health whilst doing so.
Finding ways to continue socialising, while still remaining physically isolated in our homes, is vital as we all face difficult times ahead together. We are fortunate that we live in the digital age and there are numerous options to socialise online that are available to us.
Here are 11 different ways that you can virtually socialise from home during the coronavirus pandemic:
1) Videogames
In many ways the birthplace of virtual socialising, videogames have been preparing us for physical isolation for a long time. Your days of online gaming with friends might be mostly behind you, but now is the time to get that group back together. You don’t need a console as PC gaming through Steam has never been more popular, breaking records this past week with over 22 million people online simultaneously.
If the idea of downloading Steam and getting to grips with modern gaming is too much, or your computer at home can’t handle it, then you can still have fun with smartphone games such as Chess, Scrabble and other good turn-by-turn choices that will keep you busy with little effort. If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch, then you’ve likely already picked up Animal Crossing and so now is the time to visit the peaceful islands of others around the world who are also escaping into its sunny shores.
2) Movie Nights
Most people under the age of 30 have been doing this for years, but it’s time for the rest of us to start up the virtual movie night. There’s no need to have your friends over in person when we have laptops (or at least a smartphone) to call in and talk over whatever movie you all choose to watch together. The periodic questions of ‘wait, what did she say?’ and ‘who’s that again?’ can continue whilst you are all safe in the comfort of your own homes.
Netflix Party is a Chrome extension that allows you to do this easily, or you can use software such as Skype or Discord to set up group calls. Webcams optional…
3) VR Worlds
This one isn’t available to most, but if you have a VR headset then you are likely already gearing it up for some serious escapism. Virtual reality offers us a glimpse into a future where being at home does little to stop our ability to explore, create and socialise wherever and with whomever we want.
All of the other items on this list are enhanced by the immersion and flexibility provided by VR. For now, this one is in the hands of the early adopters – but it’s worth looking into the capabilities of the technology to get an idea of what’s possible. If you don’t have a VR set, then there are still online worlds focused on socialising (such as Second Life) available to live out a virtual existence.
4) Forums and Interest Groups
Since the early days of Usenet, well before websites and social media platforms were even conceived of, people were forming groups around shared interests and becoming friends across vast distances. If you have never participated in an online community of strangers brought together around a common love or hobby, you are missing out. There are deep and fulfilling levels of socialisation to be found in becoming part of such a network.
The trick is to find one close to your heart (often centred around your favourite hobby or fandom), but that is still small enough that people get to know one another. Social media websites such as Twitter and Instagram aren’t what you are looking for here, so finding the more oldschool message forums and closed communities behind small paywalls is the way to go. There are people here to chat with and learn from, to share your results and ask questions about next steps. It requires some commitment to get properly involved and known by others, so now is as good a time as any to get started.
5) Video Chats with Family and Friends
For many people, social distancing means almost complete isolation and loneliness. This applies to your neighbours, friends and family members that are within your ability to make sure everyone gets some social interaction during this difficult time. Video chats are important as they help us register that a full social interaction has taken place, while also allowing us to share a smile or properly register the challenges our loved ones are facing. Make sure you check in every few days with your friends and family, we’re all worried about one another right now and it makes a difference to our collective wellbeing.
6) Networking on Social Media
Social media is an excellent tool for networking both professionally and for other non-professional interests and hobbies that you have. Being indoors at the same time as everyone else means that we’re all obsessively checking social media together, so the time is ripe to make new connections and strengthen old ones.
Just like in real life, networking takes time. It requires you to be attentive and thoughtful, to actively engage and not just be the equivalent of a flashing neon sign. There are some great connections to be made through what at first might seem a superficial world of short-form tweets and online commenting. You’ve got the time now to start engaging and making new bonds that could end up bearing all kinds of different fruit in the future.
7) Online Boardgames and Roleplaying
If videogames or VR aren’t your thing, you can still get your fix of more traditional tabletop and roleplaying games. Huge strides have been made in recent years with the release of virtual versions of many of the more popular boardgames – although not all of them have good multiplayer implementation, so you do have to look around a bit.
Settlers of Catan is a classic with very good multiplayer support, but there are also recent games such as Terraforming Mars and family-friendly games such as Ticket to Ride that are readily available.
For those willing to take on more complexity, there’s Tabletop Simulator on PC which can emulate pretty much everything. Even miniature wargames such as Warhammer 40k and Infinity have mods available for it, thanks to an insanely dedicated community. It can take a bit more to get into, and you need to know the rules beforehand (as if it were in front of you); but the options are truly limitless.
For roleplaying games you have Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds that will let you have fun with all the major systems from D&D, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun, Vampire the Masquerade and many more.
8) Online Learning
Many of us will be learning new skills over the next few months. While considering what you want to (finally) learn, consider the many different options for online learning that involve virtual classrooms and some basic forms of group work and discussion. There are great courses taught by the likes of MIT Open Learning and Future Learn that incorporate the classroom model to encourage you to learn in a group environment, taught by high-level lecturers from universities around the world.
This kind of online learning also works particularly well for learning a new language, such as Rosetta Stone with the option for video tutoring, or coding with projects that are commented on to help you improve.
9) Workplace Buddy System
Looking after your workplace colleagues is part of a flourishing society, but it’s difficult to know where to start sometimes. In order to make sure that you aren’t just checking in with the people you like best as opposed to those who might really need it, you should set up a workplace buddy system so that everyone is assigned a colleague and can check in every few days.
Just a simple text or quick video call makes a huge difference when people are self-isolating, particularly for those who live alone. The importance of this goes beyond just those we are closest to and a workplace buddy system helps to ensure that our virtual socialisation goes further. It also means that once normal life resumes, you’ll have closer bonds with the people you work with.
10) Collaborative Art and Music Projects
This one is mostly for those creative types who are already geared up, but it can also apply to hobbyists or even complete beginners. Creating music together remotely is an interesting project to undertake. It’s mostly based around recording/programming an element of a song and then passing it on to your colleague/s for their input until you end up with a finished piece.
Even if you’re not working on the same piece together, there are plenty of hashtags or themes going around to plug into with your own creative efforts (one of my personal favourites being the eurorack Three Module Challenge from a few years ago).
Art projects have even more flexibility and a wider community of people ready to engage. For the most part, this won’t necessarily be immediately collaborative (although you can certainly take that route); but there are endless hashtags to jump on board with. For example, Kitbash 3D have just released a set of their Utopia 3D models (RRP $199) for free with the encouragement for digital artists to use them to create Bright Art for Dark Times (#BrightArtDarkTimes). There’s so much out there to get involved with, whatever your interest or digital medium of choice might be.
11) Online Bookclub
If you’re anything like me, the number of books you’ve read in recent years has dropped dramatically. Now is a good time to start reading again and get through that pile (or entire bookshelf) of books that you’ve picked up over the years, but never got past the first chapter or two. You can take this even further by looking for some online bookclubs (or creating one for your friends and family) to take part in.
Goodreads Groups is a great place to start, with all kinds of different interests covered. Many of the groups are huge and fall into the category of an online forum, but there are smaller groups to be found and you can always set up your own. Reddit Bookclub is another good option that tends to have smaller discussions you can take part in. Get a group going with your friends who used to hang out at the pub and you’ve got a reason to stay intellectually stimulated and touch base each week.
Conclusion
Although the year ahead will be a challenging one and devastating for many, technology will allow us to stay connected and enjoy one another’s company in many different ways. Our shared humanity isn’t just defined by where we are physically, but who we are connecting with emotionally and socially.
Our lives are being turned upside down by COVID-19, so now is the time to find out where the best parts of humanity lie in amongst all the concern and chaos. Take some time today to try something new and be encouraged by how much love, empathy and joy is out there to keep us all going.
Header Image by Orihaus, Creative Commons
