5 Ways to Stay Connected as a Student During COVID-19
In a recent Canadian survey, 81% of respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting their mental health.
As a student, I have faced a unique set of challenges. I struggled to find a summer internship after so many opportunities were cancelled. My classes switched to online, independent learning while remaining as rigorous as ever. However, by far my greatest challenge has been the social isolation.
While I am at school, I do my best to engage in social activities whenever possible. I have found that spending time socializing reduces my stress while increasing my confidence and overall wellbeing. Additionally, when I find time to spend with friends, I often focus better when I am in class, studying, or completing assignments. As a result, most evenings and weekends I could be found playing cards, watching movies, or just chatting with some friends.
After having near-constant interaction with all kinds of different people, the sudden move back home was really difficult for me. In the first few weeks of being home, I experienced many of the effects of social isolation, including increased stress and trouble sleeping. I wasn’t sure how I’d take care of my mental health while being apart from so many people I care about.
Thankfully, I have developed many strategies for staying connected since I left school, over two months ago. Below I’ve shared some of the ways I’ve avoided loneliness during this pandemic.
1. Call Your Friends to Reconnect
No, that doesn’t mean text them! Nothing replaces real, in-person interaction, but hearing the voices of friends and family has definitely allowed me to feel less alone. If your internet connection is strong enough, a video call is even better!
It seems weird at first making plans to hang out virtually, but once I started scheduling these visits I felt better almost instantly. There are so many different platforms you can call your friends over, some being one-on-one and some allowing large groups to all talk together.
In my experience, staying in touch with my friends and family has been the most effective way to reduce feelings of isolation, and I’d really recommend you try it.
2. Volunteer to Connect to the Cause
Lots of organizations need extra help right now, and have planned safe ways to do it! Volunteering allows you to interact with other people, do something productive with your day, and support people in your community. Currently, I have two different volunteer positions.
My first volunteer role is at a blood donation centre. There, I provide post-donation snacks and monitor donors’ wellbeing. The setup means that I’m never within 2 metres of another person, and everyone in the building wears a mask. As a result, the risk to me is very low, but I get to talk with plenty of people about their day, their experiences, and what inspired them to donate.
I also volunteer by mentoring future women in engineering at the University of Waterloo, where I offer guidance and support as they prepare for university in the fall. Even better, this position is entirely remote, meaning I can help people out without any risk to my health.
Overall, I’ve found that volunteer positions have given me the human connection I desperately needed, and I would highly recommend community service to anyone who’s struggling right now.
3. Get outside to Connect With Your Community
I’ve found that getting outside has helped me feel more connected by allowing me to interact with other people and feel less trapped in my house.
As the weather gets warmer, more and more people have been getting outside to garden, go for a walk, or bike around the neighbourhood. As well, the people I’ve met in my neighbourhood have been much friendlier than usual, with almost everyone stopping to say hello.
While these interactions are far from the close, personal ones I’m used to with my friends, they’ve really boosted my mood and helped me feel a sense of community in my city that I haven’t experienced before.
If it’s safe and allowed in your area, I’d definitely recommend spending some time outside each day if you’re feeling lonely.
4. Play Some Games to Connect While Having Fun
Games are a great way to connect with friends and family even if you don’t feel like you have anything to talk about. This isn’t limited to traditional video games, either - there are so many options available for different card and board games! Some platforms have video or voice chat built-in, and others you can talk over another platform while you play the game.
My family does a games night every week or two, where we all talk over video conference for a few minutes, and then we switch to a drawing game or a card game. With these games nights, I find I’m actually talking with some family members more than I would normally because we’re all making a conscious effort to stay connected, rather than fitting it into our schedule if it’s convenient.
I’ve also been staying connected with my friends through card games. Many of us played card games together on a daily basis while we were living in the same residence building, so playing cards together has been a great way for us to maintain contact, even when many of us are in different countries.
This list has some great options for games to try with friends and family.
5. Try a Distanced Visit to Connect Face-to-Face
This one depends on your living situation and regional health authorities, but in many cases, it’s safe to visit someone in person as long as you take proper precautions. Although you can’t hug during these visits, I’ve really enjoyed seeing some friends face-to-face.
Distanced visits can take many different forms. For example, I met one friend on her front lawn for a couple of hours. We each set up our own lawn chair a couple of metres apart and were able to talk from that distance. Meeting outside like this is great because you don’t have to worry about touching surfaces like door handles and there’s more space to spread out in.
Another way I’ve done a distanced visit is by meeting for a hike. If hiking trails are open in your area, they’re a great place to get some fresh air and exercise with a friend. Many trails are wide enough to walk a safe distance apart, you may just have to be careful if people pass in the other direction.
Even though it’s not really feasible to see people in person as much as I’m used to, I’ve really enjoyed occasional distanced visits in addition to virtual ones.
Although this pandemic has led to a lot of isolation, there are many ways to stay connected and reduce feelings of loneliness. If you’re interested in more wellness tips and mental health resources, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or explore the wellness items PASS offers.