How to Survive Social Distancing

Let’s just admit it – social distancing isn’t easy. Many of us are used to meeting and greeting people face-to-face. After all, we’re social beings. None of us is made to be alone.

To help you navigate this time away from others, here are ten things you can do to help you get through it all.

1. Create a Dedicated Workspace

A dedicated space helps you focus on your work. This might be a home office or even a corner of your dining room.

Can’t have a separate workspace from where you eat or sleep? Try to rearrange the space and remember to keep the area tidy. Try setting up flowers, headphones, and whatever you need for work for your new office desk.

2. Try a Virtual Lunch Meeting

Try taking a moment to reach out to a friend or coworker just to say, ‘Hi’ during lunch or a break. Talk about your new favorite show, catch up on news or just see how they’re doing.

It’s a great way to maintain a working relationship. If you’re able to find a moment, reach out to say hello.

3. Recreate Your Commute

Help your mind transition from work-life to home-life by taking time to recreate your commute when the workday is done. Walk your dog or jog to replicate your commute time. Listen to the radio, a podcast, digital book or music.

Want to stay indoors? Pick something to do during your commute time; fold laundry, do some stretching or even vacuuming – any physical activity works.

4. Maintain Family Routines

Many parents have also become at-home teachers – so it’s important to keep kids on a consistent schedule even if they’re out of school.

Schedule lesson times, snack times, and even play times. Make learning interesting and fun with supplemental activities in the kitchen or around the home.

5. Don’t Forget Me-Time

Parents are constantly juggling work, kids’ extracurricular activities, visiting relatives, maintaining the home, and community involvement. This can lead to stress and exhaustion.

Remember to take some time for yourself. Sleep in, catch up on a TV show or book, or video-chat with a friend or relative.

6. Limit Your News Intake

It’s easy to leave the TV on or watch the mobile news feeds every ten seconds. But there’s a difference between staying informed and becoming addicted to news. Try to schedule time for getting the news, so it doesn’t consume your thoughts and your day.

7. Avoid the “Quarantine 15”

Many of us remember the ‘Freshman 15’ from our college days, but the ‘Quarantine 15’ can also happen. The effects of extra snacks and lack of exercise pile up fast. Try to make eating more reward-focused, such as grabbing a healthy snack every 3-4 hours for completing a task.

Remember to be kind to your body. Nominal exercise and healthy snack choices go a long way toward lower stress and higher energy.

8. Get Creative

Let’s get that hobby started. Learn how to paint, start an indoor garden or start writing that book you’ve been talking about. Whatever creative outlet that’s on your mind, now’s the time.

9. Try Online Cooking

We’re all cooking more – and eating more – so why not learn some new recipes? You can even ask a friend or family member to hop online with you and make it a fun social event.

10. Themed Dinner Nights

Make dinnertime more exciting with themed dinner nights. Try ‘Vegetarian Mondays’, or introduce a new, yummy side-dish to the kids. ‘Taco Tuesdays’ are always a big hit. There are countless recipes and the whole family can get involved.

Social distancing doesn’t mean the end of staying connected. Reprioritize your schedule to find time for the things you want. Social distancing requires modifying our behaviors to help protect others, and the good news is that it’s doable.

How are you learning to cope? Let us know in the comments below.