As anyone who has been through the divorce process will tell you, one of the most important things is staying connected to those close to us. Unfortunately, that’s a little tricky right now.
The standard advice of rediscovering your hobbies, setting new goals, and reconnecting with family and friends needs to be adapted for quarantine.
Unfortunately, meeting up with friends isn’t easy when we can’t leave home! Instead, one of the best ways to cure the isolation blues is with video calls and virtual parties.
Doctors, Nurses, and Carers from the UK even put out a video urging people to use video calls to stay connected to each other. It’s the Doctor’s Orders!
Don’t worry. They don’t have to be boring. There’s a number of ‘party’ ideas you can use with groups: from the most innocent family catch-ups to a virtual night out with friends.
To help give you some inspiration I’ve put together an infographic showing the 7 best virtual party ideas. The first four are more friends-focused, and the bottom three are more for family.
Personally, Jackbox parties are my favorite (though they’re definitely for friends instead of family!)
How Can a Virtual Party During Divorce Help During COVID-19?
This infographic was inspired by a 2,000+ person study by YoungMinds, where they found video calls to be the best antidote for isolation anxiety.
Video calls can help us feel more connected and a little bit closer to normality. Especially for those in quarantine alone. They’re much more effective than just a phone call because they’re closer to being together. It makes a huge difference to be able to see each other, laugh with loved ones, or even just comment on a friend’s new top/furniture/choice of beer!
What If I’m Tired of Video Calls?
I know – it seems like all we do these days is video calling. If you’re working from home and having to put up with endless Zoom meetings, jumping on a ‘virtual party’ with family is hardly your idea of a good time.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many other options right now. Aside from playing games online together or just calling to chat, our socializing options are fairly limited.
Commenting on this exact issue (deemed ‘screen fatigue’), psychologist Dr. Raubolt recommends taking an hour to yourself before a call: “Doing something just by yourself, perhaps by reading or listening to music, something that’s reflective and pulls you inside yourself”.
It’s always important to make sure you’ve got a good balance of satisfying your own wants and needs, as well as satisfying the social need by staying in touch with friends and family.
Wrap Up
Going through any tricky part in life, especially divorce, is most helped by support from friends and family.
They help show you that you’re loved, supported, and most importantly they appreciate you for being who you truly are. That’s why it’s so important to stay connected to those who celebrate you.
In particular, being isolated can be a great excuse to get back in touch with faraway friends. Consider checking in on friends or family who’ve moved around the world, that you would normally otherwise not have the time to call.
Video calls (or ‘virtual parties’) may not be quite the same as meeting up with friends to watch the game or for a few drinks in town. But they’re important – and proven to be the best way to help quarantine anxiety. I hope this has helped inspire you to pick up the phone (or laptop) and stay connected!
Normally a home and garden expert, Craig Anderson tries to help in the fight against coronavirus by creating positive content to help those stuck in quarantine. You can find him over at his blog, ApplianceAnalysts. www.applianceanalysts.com
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