Socializing While Social Distancing

By: Callie McLean

They don’t tell you that one of the hardest parts of adult life after college is moving away from the friends and family you know and trying to make friends in a new city. Add in a global pandemic, quarantines, and lockdowns and it seems impossible to socialize. How do you avoid feeling isolated and disconnected when you’re viewing everything through a screen?

It’s natural to resent screens and technology after being forced to spend so much time on them for work and school. However, one of the first steps to successfully socializing during this pandemic is to start utilizing this technology. It has been difficult not being able to travel to see my friends from college and my hometown. I was starting to feel really disconnected from them and was worried we would grow apart, which I know has been a sentiment shared by many. Before Covid, I loved watching movies with my friends and family. This is why the “Party” feature of many streaming services has been great because I can still watch movies and shows with the people I love and chat with them like we’re in the same room. It gives us something to look forward to and bond over. Another way I have tried to combat the feelings of disconnect is setting aside time to meet with my friends using services like Zoom and FaceTime. This way, we can see each others’ faces and hear each other’s’ voices and feel connected. We sometimes even assign themes to the nights or prepare games to play to make things a little more interesting.

Friendly competition is always a good bonding exercise. I have made use of services like GamePigeon, Facebook Messenger, TriviaCrack, and fantasy sports apps to play with my friends and family. This gives us a new, fun way to interact and something to talk about. It’s also good exercise for the mind! Many board games like Catan also offer online versions that can host several players! This is a great option for virtual game nights! Everyone can bring their own drinks and food to their computer and feel like they are with their friends and family without physically being there. (Pro Tip: When you start to lose you can also just exit the browser and blame it on your connection.)

I have used all of these services to help foster new friendships here in Atlanta as well. Moving to a new city where I didn’t know anyone was daunting, but fortunately Rollins gave me the opportunity to meet plenty of new friends! We got to know each other through virtual study groups, game nights, and movie nights. We’ve also had the luxury of being able to take proper precautions to meet in-person. I love going for walks in Piedmont Park or on the Beltline with my friends as a way to get exercise and socialize! (Another Pro Tip: If you get a dog people love to talk to you.) Outdoor hikes or picnics are also great ways to socialize with friends and explore new places while still staying safe! There are plenty of great restaurants that are offering take-out or you can stop by a grocery store and try your hand at making your own charcuterie board! It’s always fun to try something new with your friends.

We are living in incredibly difficult times and it can be easy to feel isolated while you’re stuck behind your screen, but it is important to lean on your support network. Socialization is so important, but so is your safety. The key is to take proper precautions to keep you and others protected. Using technology to your advantage through video calls, games, and movie nights is a great way to stay connected to your friends and family and build new friendships. Spending time outdoors is also a great way to get fresh air and be social. As always, remember to stay safe and get tested! 

Callie is a 2nd Year Epi MPH student pursuing a certificate in Social Determinants of Health! She is from Charleston, SC and got her B.S. in Public Health from the University of South Carolina in 2019. When she’s not in class she loves spending time in Piedmont Park or on the Beltline with her dog Pilsner. Callie served as one of the Rollin’s Social Chairs for the 2021 Calendar Year and enjoyed her time helping Rollins students stay social safely!

Featured Image by Dollar Gill on Unsplash