I am an introvert.
But even for me, this social distancing thing is hard.
I miss having friends over to our house and meeting up for lunch after church and worshipping with other people and being in the classroom with my students. I miss face-to-face conversations. I miss writing groups and game nights.
Video calling is a helpful technology, and I can’t imagine where we’d be without it. But it’s not a replacement for in-person interactions. It’s not the same.
But our relationships with others aren’t the only things that stand to change during this time. What about our relationships with ourselves? With God? With those we are stuck in quarantine with?
How do we maintain our most important relationships in the midst of a global pandemic… when we’re not even supposed to leave our homes?
We’re all figuring this out together. Here are a few tips that have worked for me during this time. I’d love to hear your suggestions as well!
Maintaining Your Relationships with Those at a Distance
1. Take advantage of technology! As frustrated as I sometimes get with technology, never have I been more thankful for the way social media and phone connections bring us together.
2. Write letters! There is an intentionality and beauty in letter-writing that can really make someone’s day brighter.
3. Be creative. We’ve had game nights with friends using video calls and online game sites at the same time, and it worked really well!
4. Pray for each other. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with others about your emotions, and ask if there are specific ways you can be praying for them as well.
Maintaining Your Relationships with Those in Your Home
1. If you aren’t quarantined alone, be thankful for the people around you—even when they get on your nerves.
2. Make space for quality conversation instead of filling your time together with Netflix.
3. Be open and honest in your communication. This is more important than ever, because you don’t want tension to build when you are seeing each other so much throughout the day.
Maintaining Your Relationship with Yourself
1. Check in with yourself and be aware of your own emotions. There’s a lot of talk in the online realms about making the most of this time and reaching your goals and coming out of quarantine stronger than ever. That’s fine, but also, this is a tough time. Don’t be hard on yourself. Sometimes you might just need to take a nap on the couch or read a good book in the sunshine.
2. Speaking of books… if you can and you enjoy it, spend some time reading or writing! Or try something creative that you don’t normally have time for. Nurture your mind.
3. Get outside! Fresh air is good for the soul.
Maintaining Your Relationship with God
1. Spend time in God’s word, soaking up His truth. He is the one thing that will never change in this crazy world.
2. Be alone with God. Sit in His presence.
3. Take time to pray. Your prayers don’t have to be fancy or eloquent or great speeches about COVID-19 and all who are affected by it. Just be honest with Him. Be conversational. Tell Him what’s on your mind and heart.
So, there are a few suggestions for maintaining relationships during our current crisis. We are all hurting, just in different ways. Let’s be there for each other, even when we can’t be there in person. Let’s be kind to ourselves. And let’s be present with God, our rock, our shelter, and our place of safety always, even in uncertain times.
Never forget… you are onederfully created.
Love,
Becca
