Has it been a long time since you’ve been able to spend time with your friends? So many people are feeling isolated right now, and some are even depressed because of the state of things. You might be down in the dumps due to not having your favorite people around like normal. If you can’t see your friends in person very often, then it’s normal to be sad about that.
There are ways that you can socialize during the pandemic while remaining responsible, though. It’s important to take things seriously and to avoid putting others in danger. But you can still do things from the comfort of home that will help you to connect with your friends. Read on to get information about how to socialize responsibly during the pandemic.
Video Calls
One of the best things that you can do when you’re missing your friends is to keep in touch. You should try to ensure that you’re talking to your friends and family members at least semi-regularly. It might not be possible to catch up with people every single day, but you can likely talk to those in your social circle pretty often. It’s easy to touch base with friends because everyone has smartphones in the modern era.
Sometimes talking on the phone or shooting texts back and forth doesn’t feel like enough, though. You can take things a step further by having a nice video call with your friends. This gives you a chance to actually see each other’s faces, and it can be a lot more personal than just talking. If you miss being able to spend time with the people in your life, then try video chatting with them when everyone has the time.
Playing Board Games Online
You know that video chat technology is useful when you want to see your friends, but you can do more than just talk to them. Many people have started playing board games with their social circles online using video conferencing apps. You can get several of your friends on a Zoom call so that you can play a board game together. If everyone has their own dice, then people can even do their own rolls.
Playing classic games like Monopoly will be possible when you utilize this method, but many are trying out Dungeons & Dragons for the first time. Tabletop role-playing games might be something that sounds fun to you. If so, then you can socialize with your friends while playing D&D. Try to meet up once every week or so to continue the campaign.
Online Video Games
Setting up a board game over a Zoom call is going to be a bit more involved than some people would want it to be. If you’d like to keep things simple while still having fun, then online video games will be perfect. You could get all of your friends to play some games with you online so that you can laugh and have a good time. Depending on your personal tastes, you might be interested in competitive games or cooperative experiences.
Getting your group of friends together to play online makes it feel like you’re in the same room even when you’re not. You can team up to try to win some matches in Overwatch or you could co-op your way through Streets of Rage 4. Online video games are a lot of fun, and you should play them every so often if you’re someone who likes games. If you’ve been missing being able to socialize with your friends, then online gaming on the weekends could be the answer that you’ve been looking for.
Getting Help for Depression
If you’re feeling depressed about not being able to see your friends, you might need to get help. You can talk to your doctor about your depression so that you can go over treatment options. Depression is a serious problem, but it can get better over time when you have access to the right types of treatment. There are medical treatments that will make a huge difference, and supportive therapy can also be a huge boon.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
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