How to Socialize While Implementing Social Distancing
We all have the one friend on Snapchat that will not stop going out in large groups and posting pictures with their invisible masks on. You might feel angry at them, for being so selfish, but a small part of you might also be jealous. Envious, that they are able to go out and see their friends. You curse yourself for being so concerned about your health and those of others. You haven’t seen your friends in months. In fact, do you still have any?
If you are a social butterfly like me, you are going THROUGH it right now. Us social butterflies thrive in large gatherings and love meeting new people. Now the only people we’re seeing are our family members and the cashier on the occasional run to the grocery store. It’s not enough. In the past six months or so, I’ve only been out with a few friends a handful of times. Granted, with a tight schedule and strict parents, I wasn’t going out every day of the week pre-COVID, but it’s summer now!
Even though it doesn’t feel like summer, as teenagers and young people, we should be outside! Making memories! Getting into trouble! Falling off our bikes and skateboards! Eating melted ice cream! At the very least, attempt to make plans with your friends that end up getting canceled because one of you suddenly becomes “busy.”
For many of us, summer 2020 has been full of late night texts, Facetime calls, online shopping, signing petitions, and Tiktok. While some of these things are more worthwhile than others, we can all agree that this summer was not what any of us expected. Personally, at the beginning of the year, I made a list of places I wanted to go and things I wanted to do. Frankly, I think I jinxed it.
Not to fret though! There are still plenty of ways you can socialize with your friends while still following the safety guidelines. Here are just a few.
#1 - Netflix Party
I’m sure you’ve heard of this extension at one point or another. It’s an easy way to watch any movie or show from your Netflix account with your friends. There’s even a chat feature so you can text while watching! It is completely free and available for Chrome browsers. Download it here!
#2 - Start Your Own Book Club
With all of this new freetime, many people have taken to reading. I can’t tell you how many Instagram influencers I’ve seen start a book club in these past few months. Doesn’t mean you can’t start one yourself! It doesn’t have to be anything big, all you have to do is find a small group of friends that would be willing to participate, and voila! You’ve got yourself a club. Choose a book, settle on meeting times, discuss the chapters over Zoom while eating snacks, make it fun!
#3 - Virtual Dinner Party
This is a fun one that involves food! There are many different ways you can orchestrate this, but the gist of it is you surprise your friends by sending them a mystery food for dinner. You can use DoorDash, PostMates, or any food delivery service. First, list all of the people participating and put their names into a hat or an online generator. This part is really similar to how you would play Secret Santa. Each person gets assigned someone to order dinner for within the group’s budget. You should do all of this over a video call and order at the same time for the best experience. Don’t forget about allergies!
#4 - We’re Not Really Strangers
In case you don’t know, We’re Not Really Strangers (WNRS) is a card game created with the intent of generating meaningful conversations and forming intimate connections with your friend or partner. The physical card game set is available to buy on their website, but it is recommended that you play it in person for the full effect. However, in light of the pandemic, they have released some free PDF versions of their game that you can download on their website to play with a friend over Zoom or FaceTime.
#5 - The Great Outdoors
Hear me out on this one, a socially distanced bike ride or walk in the park might be just what you need. Although it is safest to be inside right now, fresh air is also good for you. Ask your best friend to meet up with you somewhere and keep your distance while wearing your masks for the entire trip. In public places, just make sure to avoid other people. A tip I learned is when hanging out with friends, try to choose the same people. It is generally safer than meeting up with new friends every week.
#6 - Online Game Night
This is something else that you can get creative with. I’ve played at least a few games of Jeopardy and Kahoot! over Zoom and let me tell you, it is so much fun. The best part about these games is you can customize the questions and make it super personal and tailored to your group of friends. If you are competitive like me, you can even add a prize for the winners so the stakes are high.
#7 - FaceTime Photoshoot
I feel like photoshoots and specifically ones done over FaceTime were huge in the first few months of quarantine, and they’ve since died down. However, it is never too late to brainstorm some creative ideas with a friend and take photos for each other. Post that picture on Instagram! Not like you’ll be seeing the people from your school anytime soon... unless your school is doing in-person learning, then I’m sorry.