February 2021
Mental Health Challenge:
We are all feeling much more isolated these days. We are in the middle of the second lockdown and it is difficult to predict when this will pass. Many have expressed that they are finding that the lockdown is having much more profound impact on their well-being on their mental health then the lockdown that occurred over the spring. The winter cold has added more of a barrier to getting physical exercise and social distanced meetings. Social connection seems to have taken a huge hit as we continue to "bunker down". At the start of the pandemic we were more motivated to stay connected because we were running on adrenaline, and we were not as burnt out by virtual life. Many of us realized that we do not like being home all the time and miss our daily routine of going into the office. We no longer are able to connect with friends and family in the same way and the loneliness is a heavy weight to carry. While we cannot rid ourselves of this loneliness entirely there are some steps we can take to stay connected. Some of these ideas may have have been things that you have done in the past but let go off. Take some time to go through this list and choose one or two things that you can do as way to stay socially connected during this difficult pandemic.
1. Coffee/Book Club: Look, I'm so done with Zoom "happy hours". Opening up a bottle of wine and staying at home just feels anti-climatic and repetitive. There is also not as much to talk about because, well not much is happening. Having a purpose for getting together and having something specific to talk about other then how much everything suck can be a much needed reprieve. It doesn't even need to be a challenging book, choose something that everyone will enjoy, and try to keep it light. If you want to challenge yourself with something heavier, then go for it, just be aware of how much you are willing to take on and also how much others have the capacity for. Remember the goal is connection!
2. Write a Letter: I know, old school, but hear me out on this one. Even though you are not getting that instantaneous connection, it can be a very meaningful way to connect. A letter can be a more thought out and deeper way of connecting with friends and family and may allow you to open and share your feelings with the other person. Plus it is always nice to getting something in the mail that is not a bill!
3. Play an Online Game: I am one of those dorky souls who enjoys a good board game night with friends. Despite not being able to attend the same in-person hangouts, I have been able to find online versions of many of the games that my group of friends and I enjoyed playing. It has become part of the weekly routine to get together once a week for an hour or so and play at least one game. It keeps us connected and we can still play the same games we loved.
4. Group Workout: We all know how important physical exercise is to our mental health. If we can combine that with our social time, two birds one stone! It can be hard to get yourself motivated to get active when your at home alone. Pulling out your workout mat or going for a walk on your own can feel next to impossible at the end of the day and your home alone. Having a friend join you, wether it is virtually or in-person (socially distanced of course), can be a great way to keep connected and also stay physically active.
5. Running Errands for Each Other: Social connection runs much deeper then hanging out and talking. When we do something kind for the people we love, it aids in our connection with them. Running out and getting groceries for our older family members, or grabbing some essential items for our friends, can be a wonderful way to connect! How lovely would it feel to find out that you didn't need to go to the grocery store this week! I
Try at least one or two of our suggestions and let us know how it works for you!