Tired of Video Calls? 30 Ways to Connect with Friends and Family Outside Your Quarantine Zone
First some super happy news from our quarantine corner of the world: Our baby boy started walking this week!
On Sunday, we put on some dance tunes between dinner and bath time, and the kid -- who loves music -- couldn't deal with another dance party on all fours, so he suddenly stood up and took off.
His beaming face at his accomplishment was a pure, incomparable joy for me. I can't even describe how it lit me up. It was such a gift.
I was able to reach both my mom and dad to show off his new steps via impromptu video call, and that too was an incredible gift.
It was a moment where all the social distance and real distance was bridged in a way that felt meaningful.
That's something I've been thinking about a lot the last couple of weeks: How to connect with the people I love beyond the "how's it going" video calls.
I'd guess that we're all craving different ways to bond with -- and have fun with -- our friends and family after 6+ weeks of nothing but video calls. (Especially if we’re on them all day for work.)
So here's a list this week of 30 different ways to connect to friends and family, beyond a "how are you?" video call or text.
1. Make them a music playlist
2. Send them a video that made you laugh
3. Send them a daily picture
4. Ask them for advice on a specific topic
5. Plan something fun/memorable for their birthday
6. Write them a letter
7. Include them in a Loving Kindness meditation
8. Be accountability partners
9. Drop off a gift at their house
10. Attend a live virtual event with them - a workout, a dance party, a meditation (Have you heard of PE with Joe? He makes me laugh, and exercise!)
11. Take an online class together (free classes at Harvard, or other top schools)
12. Play an online game together
13. Research and plan a trip or adventure together to do in the future
14. Start a book group together
15. Sing virtual karaoke (is that even possible?!)
16. Compete on a daily puzzle (my sister and I have been addicted to besting each other at this one)
17. Have a virtual game night
18. Send a video message
19. Write them a note of 10 things you love about them
20. Send a gift to their house
21. Interview them (One original example: my husband's nephew and his friends have been using Instagram Live to host Ask-Me-Anything interviews among members of their friend group, lots of laughs and a way to reminisce about all their shared memories together).
22. Journal about one of your favorite memories of them -- then send it to them.
23. Include them in a daily gratitude practice
24. Make a photo slideshow of your times together
25. Set up a virtual happy hour / coffee meetup
26. Start a podcast together
27. Do a language exchange or ask for lessons
28. Watch a show "together" - a la the “When Harry Met Sally” Casablanca scene
29. Share a favorite recipe or do a swap
30. Dig out some old photographs of you together
What did I miss? What's helped you to stay connected with your friends and family during this time?
