As more and more organizations work to deal with the sudden shift to the virtual that COVID-19 (or coronavirus) has forced upon us in 2020, many of us have seen our work lives change and adapt to fit the new(er) way of working. We (and other organizations) are
talking a lot about how our work and online communities need to adapt and creating spaces to talk about these topics, but we also need to remember to take care of ourselves in all of this.
It's fitting that Community Manager Advancement Day (CMAD) 2020 focused on self-care, because we're all being reminded to take time to take care of ourselves amidst a global pandemic. So, while thinking about our organizations are moving into the virtual spaces and communities, we also need to think about how our wellness is moving into virtual spaces.
How are we continuing to connect and be social through digital channels? How are we adapting our social norms and behaviors to fit the new situation we find ourselves in?While people across the globe are in local, state-level, or even national lockdowns and quarantines, we all need to get creative with how socialize. We may not be able to gather in groups, but we can use the technology that we rely on to connect disparate employees in an organization to also connect disparate friends, families, and peers.
The following are some ideas for how to connect through digital channels:
- Virtual lunch dates - Invite a few colleagues or friends to lunch on a video software tool (like we're doing with members on Zoom), make a sandwich, and take some time to connect like you would if you met them at the local café.
- Virtual wine dates - Similarly to the lunch date, if you normally attend a happy hour event or get some friends over for a drink, spin up a virtual room and do the same thing, just online!
- Video call group chats - Some people use Facetime, others use other video chat applications, but whatever your choice, open it up on a regular basis and connect with someone. Instead of texting or even calling, get that face-to-face time. It's valuable.
- Social media video conversations - In a similar vein as the group chats, use what you have available to you and, instead of just texting or messaging someone, use video tools to connect. If you're on social media, applications like Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram all allow for some type of video messaging (try using the "Stories" feature), which is a great way to get in a little more face time with someone.
- Group movie watching - If you're missing the movies, or even just having friends over to watch Netflix, move that to the online space. You can use tools like Kast or Gaze to start a movie and watch with friends online. They even have chat options so you can continue your side conversations like normal.
- Phone/Video call walks - If you're still able to get outside, use that time to connect with someone. Call up a friend or family member and talk to them on the phone or through a video call. A quick walk is a great time to just check in and see how someone else is doing.
- Telekaraoke - Want some face-to-face time that's a little more fun? Some people have been putting together "telekaraoke", or karaoke on video calls (like this Zoom Karaoke), so maybe you don't have to cancel that birthday party!
And if you're looking for content to connect around, many organizations are offering virtual opportunities to engage. These are prime chances to build community...
- Musicians streaming live concerts - Some musicians have started live-streaming mini concerts to fill the time.
- PopSugar's free workouts - PopSugar opened up their Active program for free to accommodate more users while people are stuck inside. They already have some community elements and exercise programs are great places to spin one up!
- Met Opera online streaming - If you're a fan of opera, the Metropolitan Opera (based in New York, New York) is live-streaming an opera a day for free. Gather up some friends and family and make it an online viewing party!
- Museums offering free virtual tours - If you're looking for an educational tool or to explore culture, several museums are offering free virtual tours so you can travel without really traveling.
- National Parks offering free virtual tours - Similarly, some US National Parks are offering free virtual tours. If you can't get outside, this is a great way to get your nature fix. Be sure to also look out for any National Park- or travel-based Facebook groups and communities that you can join to talk more!
- Lunch Doodles (daily doodles for kids) - Many families are now homeschooling children and have found this YouTube series of daily drawing exercises a great way to get some creativity into the schedule. If art isn't a great way to build community, I'm not sure what is!
No matter what avenue you choose, there is one thing you should
not do: stop doing what you like to do. You might not be able to do your everyday activities at the same place, same time, or with the same people, but you can adapt and find (or build) your own communities to achieve what you're looking for.
What strategies are you using to stay connected while "social distancing"? Let us know what you're trying in the comments and we can add to the list.