For many of us, the COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives and the way we relate with people around us almost overnight.
We hear this term – social distancing – almost every day as a means of protecting ourselves from getting infected with the virus. But the truth is what we should really practice is physical distancing and not emotionally disentangling ourselves from our friends and loved ones. Yes, we’re keeping the physical distance between us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still emotionally connect.
Sickness reminds us that we are all each other’s responsibility, but it can be painfully difficult to know how to enact those responsibilities when the physical distance is first and foremost among them. How do we help people when we need to limit physical contact with them? The answer is simple: Let’s focus on reducing physical contact while maintaining—to the extent possible—the social connections that help us thrive and stay healthy.
Small steps can lead to big effects.
Here are some of the ways I’ve been keeping that emotional connection with my loved ones:
Phone Calls; Video Calls; Text messages; If you live in a place where you’re allowed to go outside, meet up with friends for walks or a run. Just remember to keep about two meters (six feet) between each other and avoid shaking hands.
Not only can you emotionally connect during this period, you absolutely should! Check-in regularly on family, older parents, neighbors, friends, or relatives and let them know they are loved and valued.
Amazonians, how have you been connecting with your loved ones emotionally during the pandemic?