With the spread of coronavirus drastically shifting our lives into a new (and temporary!) normal, we are constantly reminded to practice social distancing, which can lead to feelings of loneliness or isolation. I’ve been home with my family for about two weeks now, so I wanted to share a few tips for how I combat these feelings and instead foster a sense of connection.

1. Spend Time with God

Some of my favorite moments are when I get to sit down with my Bible and journal, and just have a conversation with God. Especially in times like these, when we can feel helpless or scared, it’s encouraging to be able to crack open God’s Word and be reminded that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV). Praying to the Lord and pouring out our praises, burdens, joys, and fears is just like talking to your best friend about what’s going on in your life, except this best friend has ALL the time in the world and just yearns to hear from you.

2. Video Call a Loved One

Speaking of talking to your best friend, be sure to schedule time to call up a friend or family member and catch up. Since many of us have been taken away from our daily routine, which may include school, work, church, the gym, or social activities, it’s important to maintain connections with the people we would usually see throughout our day or week. Ask them how they’re doing in the wake of coronavirus, but also ask them about everyday things, like a hobby they’ve been trying out or a project they’ve been working on. Simply having a conversation that isn’t all about what’s in the news will provide a sense of normalcy to people on both ends of the call, and you’ll have a happier mood to show for it.

3. Get Outside!

Nature is a great way to clear your head and get some fresh air, and fortunately, the virus is a lot less likely to spread in open air, so take the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. If we are conscious about maintaining a safe physical distance from other people and maintaining good hygiene practices, getting outside of our four walls can be a beautiful reminder that even though we are socially distanced, we’re all in this together. 

There’s no doubt that nowadays, we need the Internet now more than ever to stay connected to one another, so thanks for coming to our corner of the Web so we can chat! Social distancing is important, but I’m not a huge fan of this term, because we don’t have to become socially isolated just because we are physically apart. Remember that your simple act of staying home is helping prevent the spread, which will help everyone get back to normal sooner, and even though life looks a little different than usual, we don’t have to go through it alone.