The Importance of Staying Connected

What a year 2020 has been!

For most of us this year has pushed us to our limits. There wouldn’t be many people who have escaped ‘unscathed.’ It might be that you’ve had to cancel holiday plans, you’ve had to move your wedding or you simply haven’t been able to see your family and friends as much as you would like. This global pandemic has left many people feeling isolated and alone.

The very practice of ‘lockdown’ or #iso quite literally means we are being forced to be alone, or shut off. Unfortunately, this pandemic has taken away a lot of activities that bring joy and a lot of places that drive connected. I know that, particularly for those people that live in Melbourne, these have been really trying times and it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Humans are innately social creatures though. We thrive from being around each other. We’re pack animals and need our friends and/or family to feel safe a secure. So how can you achieve this connection (safely and legally) during a global pandemic??

Get Out. That might sound nuts when everyone is telling you to stay home, however, one consistent message is that it’s ok to exercise. If you’re lucky enough to live near friends or family start a ‘walk roaster.’ My friends and I have just created a new one (thanks lockdown number 2!) and it’s helping us to get through knowing we’ll see a friendly face every couple of days for a walk. If you can’t walk with a friend or family member, try and make eye contact with people when you’re out for your walk and say ‘good morning.’ One thing I noticed when we first went through lockdown is everyone put their eyes down when they passed each other walking- like some how you would catch COVID-19 from making eye contact! I was determined to smile when I passed people or to say ‘good morning.’ I started to notice that more and more people would smile back and say ‘hello.’ It made me feel less alone and helped me realise we’re all in this together.

Get Creative. Many of you may be working from home and so Zoom or Microsoft Teams has become (begrudgingly) your best friend. The thought of then have a ‘Zoom Dinner Party’ might be too much to bear. Try having a weekly Trivia Night with your friends, a dance party, cooking session, or watching a Netflix show together. Sometimes doing an activity together, digitally, can take the pressure off you feeling like you need to drive a conversation or focus to heavily and the words just flow more easily. I can highly recommend Hot Dub Time Machine for a great living room dance party.

Get Honest. These times are difficult - there’s no other way of looking at it. Sometimes it’s really helpful to spend some time checking in with yourself to see how you feel. It’s ok to not be ok. Your friends and family will always want to help. Even though you can’t be with them as much as you would like at the moment, I guarantee you, they definitely want to hear from you. Sometimes it can be just sending someone a hello text, a funny picture or a silly video, and then getting one back, that is all you need to keep moving forward that day.

At Piece by Piece Therapies in Camberwell we’re skilled Psychologists in supporting people to manage their social and emotional well-being. We too know the importance of connection and see that as of paramount importance when working with our clients. We are excited to continue to offer online and telehealth appointments for clients whilst Melbourne begins this next phase of lockdown.

If you, or someone you know, would like to speak with someone about how you’re feeling, or would simply like to reach out to someone for support and connection, please feel free to click the link below to get in touch.

Happy Chatting!