OK… so maybe the title is light clickbait-y.. but bare with me and read ahead for some ideas that may help you through lockdown (or any period of your life where you may be confined to home)/
TL;DR – Find ways using the internet to stay connected to your loved ones
1 – Watch Parties – Organise a date and time to watch the same TV episode / Film / *insert whatever tickles your pickle* and chat over video to simulate lounging on the sofa together. Whether you subscribe to a service like Disney+ that has this feature built in or just simply choreograph to press play at the same time, it can be a fun way to old favourites… with your old favourites!
2 – Play online games – This one speaks for itself but finding a game online that you can play with your friends is not only a good way to keep in touch… it can be a nice way to espace reality for an hour or two. This could be shooting each other up in the latest Call of Duty, finding out who of your friends is the best liar (and most sus) in Among Us or even just playing an intricate game of Zoom Charades. I play online games with different groups of friends regular and I’ve personally found it to be a massive boost to my mental health (I also stream this regularly too, so if you’d rather zone out and watch some comically bad gaming – check out my gaming page for links and schedules here).
3 – Quizzes – Speaking of Zoom (other video conferencing software is available), the first UK Coronavirus lockdown inspired the nation to quiz our bloody little hearts out. With the brief lockdown respite of “Eat Out to Help Out”, this can feel novel again. BONUS: if you don’t fancy setting your own quiz, you can take part in one hosted by your locals resident quizmaster (who will most likely be on Facebook) but here’s a regular one I would recommend if you don’t fancy the search
4 – Join on online forum / facebook group / subreddit that you are interested in. Whether you are interested in crocheting, building computers or simply moaning about the current affairs – there’s a group for you. Obvious disclaimer that not all communities are created equally and there’s no guarantee you won’t accidentally wonder into a toxic one… but dare to give it a try! You may end up finding kinship with likeminded folk that you’d never get the chance to meet otherwise! Joining local groups is also a great way to keep in touch with neighbours and offer service to those that may need extra support in these unpredictable times – that’s a double: be social and be supportive <3
5 – Start your own community – If there’s nothing that satisfies your niche (no judgements here… just pop on private browsing next time), you can start your own community tailored to you and your friends. Alongside my gaming, I started a Discord Server for anyone that wants to find games or share support on mental health called: Frakcha Gaming – Mental Health & Gaming. It’s still very early in it’s creation but I hope it can be another free resource to find support or turn to when people need a healthy escape.
So that’s my 5! Let me know what you think and feel free to send any more suggestions – be stay safe and look after each other <3
Frakcha