Fortunately, even with social distancing requirements, you can still make time to interact and bond \u2014 all you need is a good Wi-Fi connection and a little extra resourcefulness.<\/p>\n Here are seven ways to stay connected with the people you love.<\/p>\n If you live with other people \u2014 whether it\u2019s family, friends, a significant other, or a housemate \u2014 it can be easy to take their presence for granted.<\/p>\n Take this time to (re)connect and strengthen your bond with each other.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u00a0meal prep<\/a>, cook, go to the grocery store, or walk your pets together,\u201d says Janika Joyner, LCSW, therapist, and owner of\u00a0Higher Elevation Psychosocial Services<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re working from home during this time, you can also\u00a0take work breaks<\/a>\u00a0with your housemates, Joyner says.<\/p>\n Schedule an afternoon walk on your calendar, meet in the kitchen for coffee, or take lunch at the same time, she suggests.<\/p>\n Now is a great time to build a stronger bond with your nearby community.<\/p>\n Instead of just making small with your neighbors as you grab the mail, suggest a monthly get-together.<\/p>\n You could spread out your chairs six feet apart on someone\u2019s driveway, gather at a nearby park on separate picnic blankets, or do a cul-de-sac potluck where everyone brings their own lunch to enjoy.<\/p>\n Even if you can\u2019t spend time with your friends in person, you can still create new memories and enjoy shared experiences by taking an online class together.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps to keep you motivated and provides some loose structure to otherwise unstructured times,\u201d Flemma says.<\/p>\n Plus, taking a class gives you something new to talk about with your friends.<\/p>\n Use this time to dive into a non-work-related hobby or activity you\u2019ve been interested in, Joyner says.<\/p>\n You could take a language course, attend a\u00a0virtual cooking class<\/a>, learn how to knit, or do something\u00a0active<\/a>.<\/p>\n Joyner does a\u00a0Zoom<\/a>\u00a0Zumba class with a group of her friends. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing each other, we\u2019re having fun, and we\u2019re taking care of our physical health,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a way to connect with others while still indulging your reading or binge-watching habits, consider starting a media club with a group of friends or colleagues.<\/p>\n Depending on your group\u2019s interests, you could choose a book, movie, or TV series to engage with \u2014 or rotate between the three every month.<\/p>\n You can then schedule weekly or bi-monthly Zoom meetings to discuss the latest chapters or episodes.<\/p>\n \u201cI highly recommend getting outdoors with people whenever possible,\u201d says Flemma.\u00a0Biking<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0walking<\/a>\u00a0with a friend at a distance is a great way to stay active and soak up some\u00a0vitamin D<\/a>, she says.<\/p>\n There are a handful of other outdoor activities perfect for social distancing, including golf, rollerblading, surfing, tennis, or simply kicking a soccer ball back and forth on a grassy field.<\/p>\n Your connection with others isn\u2019t limited to socially distanced gatherings or screens.<\/p>\n You can still catch up with the people you care about by writing each other letters or sending postcards, Joyner says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels so good to sit down and write reflections about life just for the fun of it,\u201d Flemma adds. \u201cIt\u2019s also a gift to get an actual letter in the mail among bills and mailers.\u201d<\/p>\n During a pandemic, it\u2019s critical to create space for joy and gratitude. That can take the form of texting your friends funny articles and memes, or sharing daily gratitudes with the people you live with, says Flemma.<\/p>\n \u201cExpressing\u00a0gratitude<\/a>\u00a0is a natural way to combat negativity,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n You can also connect with others by practicing \u201cJoy Spotting,\u201d which Flemma says is when you \u201cactively notice the things in your day that bring a moment of joy.\u201d<\/p>\n Think: the birds singing outside your window, the first sip of coffee in the morning, or a positive email from your manager.<\/p>\n Regularly connecting with your loved ones, friends, and community can do wonders for your mental health and happiness.<\/p>\n But remember: It\u2019s not a cure-all.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re making the time to connect with others and still experiencing frequent anxiety,\u00a0stress<\/a>, or sadness, consider talking to a professional.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to suffer alone. If you\u2019re feeling down and overwhelmed, therapy right now is accessible,\u201d Joyner says.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Staying](\"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/How-to-Stay-Connected.960-715x358-1.jpg\")
1. Plan Activities With the People You Live With<\/h2>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/beachbody-blog\/uploads\/2020\/10\/How-to-Stay-Connected.600.2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Organize a Neighborhood Get-Together<\/h2>\n
3. Take an Online Class With Friends<\/h2>\n
4. Start A Book, Movie, or TV Club<\/h2>\n
5. Explore a New Outdoor Hobby<\/h2>\n
6. Go Old-School and Write Letters<\/h2>\n
7. Share Your Happiness and Gratitude<\/h2>\n
Embracing the New Normal<\/h2>\n