Possibly one of the hardest things about having to deal with the pandemic and staying at home, is the loss of human connection. Humans are social creatures, and even introverts are starting to feel the effects of the last few months we’ve had to deal with. Staying connected to people and building new connections is so important – not only for work and growth, but for our wellbeing, too.
With that in mind, here are some creative suggestions that you can use to continue building connections sensitively during COVID.
Work On Your Personal Brand and Online Identity
Start by working on your personal brand and online identity. When you’re meeting people for the first time, especially online, they are going to pay close attention to who you portray yourself to be across social platforms. If you’re unhappy with how you come across, it’s time to audit that. Remain authentic, be consistent, and make sure you’re your best self.
Reach Out To People and Personalize It
Don’t be afraid to let people see the human side of you. When reaching out to people, personalize it. Talk about how COVID has affected you and be honest and open about it, and they will be more likely to do the same with you. Don’t pry with them, but show empathy and be as authentic as you can. This should help you to build a better rapport over any stale, forced chat that just doesn’t feel natural.
Give Something Away Of Value
Can you give something away of value? Perhaps you could arrange a book swap, or write up some content that you feel would help people. When you want to help people and show that by providing value, you become someone they want to make a connection with.
Set Up A Virtual Coffee
Virtual coffee is an easy, no-pressure way to meet with people and talk. All you need is a webcam or even a smartphone, and you can chat over a hot drink. Whether you’re looking to make friends in the area, are wanting to date, or simply looking for some support, this can be a great way to minimize feelings of isolation.
Write To People
The art of letter writing is almost lost, but some people still love to receive a handwritten letter. This may be a nice way to reach out to somebody you love or care about, or even begin a pen pal relationship with somebody.
Host A Virtual Event
How about hosting a virtual event? Make it fun, create a theme, and even mail party favors to get everybody ready. It could be based around cooking or DIY. It could be a support group or a reading club. It could even just be a quiz. Take it in turns to host the event and have fun.
Building connections during COVID is hard, but not impossible. Don’t forget to nurture the connections you already have, too.