COVID-19: Staying social while social distancing
Ways to connect off campus and online
Posted on: March 26, 2020; Updated on: March 26, 2020
By Caleigh McDaniel, stucomm@mailbox.sc.edu
The best way to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is to socially distance, so it’s time to get creative when it comes to socializing.
Being away from friends, class and normal everyday life can feel isolating at times, and if you’re like me, the only thing that helps keep the FOMO at bay is knowing that everyone else is in the same situation. Luckily, now more than ever, there are ways to stay connected while keeping a distance.
Have a long distance movie night
There is a new way to see movies and binge watch your favorite series with friends. Grab your popcorn and head to Netflix Party to catch up on new movies and shows with pals. You can even chat while you watch. We recommend re-watching "The Office" for the fifth time or seeing what all of the hype is about with "Love is Blind."
Start some friendly competition
Challenge the ones you miss most to some games on your phone like Words With Friends or Trivia Crack to pass the time. If you’re quarantining with roommates or family, play cards or dust off some old board games to start some friendly competition. Bonus points if both you and a long distance friend have a game like Battleship that you can play separately together over Facetime or Zoom.
Some UofSC students have gotten creative and have started an “iMessage Game Olympics.” They created a group message, made a bracket and played rounds of different iMessage games. They made a bracket and winners continue to face off. Start your own bracket with friends to see who will win gold.
Stay fit
Staying active while away from the gym can be a challenge. If you’re missing GroupX classes at Strom and Blatt, we recommend trying the workouts on Campus Rec’s Instagram live Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. For extra motivation, do these workouts live with friends over Zoom or Facetime to cheer each other on.
Several fitness brands are also offering free virtual classes worth checking out including Peloton, Planet Fitness and Nike.
Get networking
Searching for an internship or job during such uncertain times can be unnerving. In most cases, the hiring process will be totally virtual, which may take some getting used to. Explore job opportunities on Handshake or visit the Career Center website for tips on improving your resume, cover letter and interviewing skills.
There will also be a virtual career fair for both Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference schools on April 2. Head to the Career Eco website to register and for more information.
Learn a new language
Staying in can present a lot of opportunities to learn new things and start new hobbies. Brush up on a foreign language or start learning a new one with the app Duolingo.
Duolingo breaks up learning a new language into simple, doable steps. Just dedicating 15 minutes a day to learning makes a huge difference. If you know anyone who speaks that language, try practicing your skills by speaking it with them over the phone.
Take care of yourself and others
These are just a few examples of the many ways to stay occupied while social distancing. Remember to remind yourself that staying in is the best way to help and you are not alone.
Here’s to better days ahead, and in the meantime stay inside, wash your hands and have concern for others.
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