Ways To Socialise While You're Practicing Social Distancing & Isolation

One of the most difficult parts of social distancing and isolation is the lack of human contact and connection. For many of us, we cherish those little moments with friends and family — the coffee catch ups after a tough day at uni, a fun house party to celebrate the end of the week or even just a run in with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

It can be tough spending so much of your time stuck inside and having no contact with faces you used to see every day. It can be easy to slip into feelings of loneliness and sadness. However, thanks to technology there are many ways to socialise and connect with your favourite people while still maintaining appropriate social distancing practices.

### Start an Online Film Club

One of the best and easiest ways to spend time with others online is to watch movies, your favourite TV shows or even YouTube videos together. There are many different platforms that allow you to watch things together at the same time. Netflix launched a Chrome extension called Netflix Party that allows that, or you can even use video call platforms like Kast by sharing your screen and computer audio. This has been a popular virtual activity amongst residents with Murdoch University Village in Perth hosting weekly movie nights on Kast paired with ‘Grab & Go’ type movie snacks at reception to go with the event!

Pick a few friends and try to schedule time weekly to watch a movie. You can go through the entire Studio Ghibli range or pick your favourite genre of movies and start your very own isolation film club! It’s a great way to stay connected with friends by stimulating interesting conversations and banter that you’re used to having in real life.

### Play Online Games

Online gaming has always been a great way for friends to interact in the online world. There’s a wide selection of video games that allow for real-time multiplayer interaction, for example Mario Kart, Minecraft or Animal Crossing.

Now there’s even the options to play classic card games or board games online. You can use the Houseparty app to host a virtual gathering with up to eight friends and play games like Heads Up, Cards Against Humanity and more! You can even find online Pictionary, a random trivia generator or online bingo! Your options of fun online games are endless.

This is a great activity for when you’re missing your friends or family. Get them all online for some friendly competition, that’s sure to get many laughs and good times.

### Throw a Virtual Dance Party

One of the best ways to release stress and blow off some steam is dancing! Use Spotify’s playlist collaboration feature to build the perfect dancing playlist with your friends. Then, get on a video call and spend your night (morning or afternoon) dancing your sorrows away.

This is great way to spend time with friends and get in some exercise. Two things that are said to increase happiness and release those feel good hormones in your brain.

### Plan a Virtual Visit to Your Favourite Museum or Gallery

If you’re wanting to do something a bit more stimulating, many art galleries and museums across the world have introduced virtual tours of their exhibitions. Pick a time for you and a friend to get on a call and immerse yourself into the stunning world of artists, designers and historians from all parts of the globe.

Here are some of our favourite virtual museums and galleries:

- The Louvre | France - Art Gallery of NSW | Australia - Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History | United States - Ghibli Museum | Japan - Great Barrier Reef | Australia - Vatican Museums | Vatican City - NASA Langley Research Center | United States - Dali Theatre-Museum | Spain

This is a great way to have fun and interesting discussions and conversations with your friends even if you’re both just lying on the couch in pyjamas. Take this once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the world from the comfort of your own home.

### As Humans We Can Always Find Ways to Connect, We Need Each Other to Survive

Even if things are different now, there’s still many things we can do to receive the comfort and joy of our loved one’s presence. And it’s in these times that we put in more effort to connect and stay in touch with those that are important to us.