For millions of Americans and across the globe, the coronavirus has made connecting with friends and family a challenge. With social distancing, self-isolation, and quarantines impacting every household, there is little room to risk attending a social gathering outside with those who don’t live with you. However, with the current digital age, innovative technology, and our general desire to be social, we’ve found plenty of ways to connect, even when we’re apart.

Social interaction is a key factor to maintaining our overall mental health. We are delighted, challenged, and engaged with our emotions more fully when we share moments with others. We also rely on routines and schedules to help us feel in control of our lives, and the coronavirus pandemic has forced a major shift of that normalcy onto everyone. Even if you are home with other family members, the sense of isolation and cabin fever can be powerful.

The American Psychological Association reports that social isolation carries a number of health risks. Feeling isolated can lead to poor sleep, poor cardiovascular health, lower immunity, depressive symptoms, and impaired executive function.

Here are ways that you can maintain your mental health and also stay in touch with your social circles.

Zoom Gatherings

Zoom has become one of the most widely used and talked about platforms in recent weeks. The video conferencing service, generally used for work and educational purposes, has seen an increase in use for more personal meetups. If you’re looking to get creative in the ways you can socialize and interact with friends and family, try using Zoom to:

• Screen share to play games by using the Whiteboard feature
• Host a talent show or open mic night
• Keep teams, study groups, classmates, church groups, or reunions connected
• Teach a course or skill
• Lead a workout class
• Bring children together with virtual play dates
• Start a weekly trivia night or happy hour
• Share a meal together

Online Gaming

Game night is back, but this time you don’t have to share the popcorn. There are plenty of fun games you can enjoy with friends and family virtually while you wait out the coronavirus pandemic. Here are just a few suggestions.

• Cards Against Humanity – If you’ve ever played the game Cards Against Humanity, then you may want to try one of its digital duplicates. The Evil Apples vs. Humanity app is available for iOS or Android and allows you to play against others.
• Texas Hold ’em – Are you more of a traditional card game type? You can play Texas Hold ’em online with friends for a game of up to eight players via Tabletopia’s website.
• Mario Kart – If you ever played video games in the 90s or early 00s. then Mario Kart was likely a staple during large gatherings. Don’t worry, you don’t need to sit six feet apart to get back on the racetrack. Mario Kart Tour is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Connect With Your Neighbors

You know those people that you see out your window? The ones that wave when you’re all leaving for work, or whose kids ride their bikes with yours? Find a way to invite them to a virtual block party! Leave a flyer at the end of their driveway if you don’t have a phone or email contact. This is a great time to get to know the folks that live near you and could be just the thing to ignite a neighborhood tradition in the real world, once the pandemic is over.

You can also get the kids and families in your neighborhood outside and involved in some creativity by organizing a sidewalk-decorating party. You can post the idea on the neighborhood Facebook page asking families to decorate their driveways or sidewalks with inspirational messages and chalk art. Everyone can enjoy the colorful creations as they stroll through the neighborhood.

How are you connecting with your friends and family? Spending time apart doesn’t mean you can’t be together.