Quarantine fatigue is real. Social Distancing: 5 Tips for Running LAist and Still Finding Joy

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Allison Aubrey | NPR

We are social creatures. Therefore, it is only natural that quarantine fatigue has begun.

“People are physically linked together,” says a psychologist Judith Moskowitz Of Northwestern University. However, Loneliness It is popular in modern life. And social distance is compounding the problem. “

Finding ways to connect is essential to our well-being, as long-term isolation can increase the risk of depression and anxiety. Dr. Sandro Galea Of the School of Public Health, Boston University. “We know the more risks we have from other events, the longer we separate.”

Social distance recommendations will be maintained for the next few months, and restrictions on large gatherings may continue until vaccines are provided. Isolation is particularly severe for the elderly and those living alone. But people are finding new ways to interact, even under unusual circumstances. Here are some strategies for connecting with others:

(Note: If you experience persistent sadness or anxiety that interferes with your daily life, consider consulting with a therapist. You can also do it online. )

1. Connect to real-time activities online, without scrolling

When it comes to our mental health, social media platforms can be a double-edged sword. Sometimes simply scrolling through Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram feeds can’t connect with others in a meaningful way.

So instead of nurturing the feeling of empty FOMO (afraid of oversight), it uses the power of virtual platforms to connect more purposefully and deeper.

Start by asking: what is important to you? Do you have a hobby that you want to revive or want to take up for the first time? From pottery to language and bread making, the whole world of online live streaming classes was opened. Ever wanted to play a banjo? Say “find the banjo class” Judith Moskowitz, A psychologist at Northwestern University.

With face-to-face real-time connectivity, you can wear facial expressions and body language to better simulate real-world gatherings. “This is one way to get to know people and expand your social network,” Moskowitz said in a live sync class.

Outside of class, if you use social media to stay in touch with your friends rather than comment on posts, try to have a one-on-one dialogue, says Joe Walther, who heads the University’s Information Technology and Social Center. Santa Barbara, California. “It’s the intimacy of the message and the depth of the interactive conversation that underpins us,” he says.

2. Making art is a social act. Express yourself and share.

Are you looking for a place to connect with people who use art to express themselves? of Lonely project Created a community through the Stuck At Home Together initiative. You can do it Watch the short film, Then join the online conversation. You can see the art of others share Your own. Group designed to motivate Creative challenge, Create self-portraits from objects around your house.

The group behind these initiatives includes doctors and researchers who document how the creative process helps people stay healthy and prevent disease. “When you make art, you are at that moment. [your] “Thoughts and emotions” Jeremy Nobel, Founded a program and is a faculty member of Harvard Medical School.

By sharing what you have created, you feel as if you are sharing your “expression of your thoughts and feelings, such as paintings, poems, baked goods, gardens, etc.” Nobel says.

He says loneliness is not the only lack of companionship. “Often, loneliness begins with the sense of alienation and disconnection of who you are. How do you adapt to this world?” Nobel says.

Art is very powerful in centering and positioning. A way to explore your identity. “And in fact, I believe for many, it’s an important first step to connecting with others in a genuine way,” says Nobel.

3. Contact the elderly

For many older people, the issue of social distance poses multiple layers of challenges. “It’s not just the lack of contact with others,” says the doctor Kelly Tice Wells, Senior medical director of health insurance company Florida Blue. It also means “you won’t be able to navigate through things that are important to your life,” such as shopping online or getting a prescription.

Florida Blue is currently Daddy palMatches the old with the young. paid Provide assistance.

Trained as a social worker, Miriam Membreno in Miami, Florida recently started working as a papa pal after his regular working hours were reduced. She effectively meets a few older people.

“I feel like helping them stay alone,” Membreno says. She sometimes says they just want to share the story, and she likes to listen. She also shares the bottleneck worries during a virtual visit. “Just relieving those stresses and concerns” is worth it.

Another program for seniors Live a dream Collect video montages to brighten up senior days. Young people can post and share short videos. You can make jokes, play musical instruments, and say encouraging words.

There are many efforts to connect elderly and young people at senior living facilities nationwide. Check with a local group to find your area.

4. Be a visually impaired citizen scholar, online teacher, or assistant. your How to practically volunteer

Many community organizations struggle to keep up with rising needs and shrinking budgets, so there are many volunteer options — even those that don’t require contact.

Is the idea of ​​becoming a civic scholar intriguing? Smithsonian Digital volunteer opportunities.. For example, according to Smithsonian’s website, “citizens are invited to transcribe historical documents, including prominent American diaries and working papers.” To participate, Smithsonian Transcription Center..

Or you can join the program called Be in my eyesIt is an application that connects people who are blind or visually impaired and volunteers who provide virtual assistance.

A database of opportunities, VolunteerMatch has a searchable site. Virtual volunteer, Has thousands of posts across the country and seeks all kinds of skills, from tutoring kids to making face masks. Find more options Idealist.org..

5. Continue to make good use of friendship with kind little acts

Sometimes small gestures can help reconnect. You can’t bake them together, but consider dropping cookies to your friends. Ask your neighbors if they can get the groceries. Organize the exchange of puzzles and games.

Judy Moskowitz said, “At this strange and difficult time, we really feel exhausted and feel like we aren’t given anything.” “But the simple act of helping someone also supports you,” she says. Kindness can lift our spirits. “And it really feels good”

Find creative ways to foster friendship, such as working together in cookbooks and watching movies together. Lydia Denworth,author Friendship: The basic bond of evolution, biology, and the extraordinary forces of life. And don’t miss the opportunity for small touchpoints all day long: sharing jokes in the text may make you less lonely, she says.

“Friendship is important in times of stress. That is the purpose of friendship,” says Denworth.

Elena Renken contributed to this report.

Copyright 2020 NPR. For more information, please visit https://www.npr.org.