Quarantining, sheltering in place, staying home. We’re tired of hearing it; we’re tired of doing it. Yet, it’s what we still need to be doing to stay safe for a while longer. All of this can be lonesome. As the days turn into weeks and weeks into months, the alone time is getting to even the most introverted among us.
Solitary confinement is considered one of the most psychologically damaging punishments a human can endure. The New Yorker reported on this in a 1992 study of prisoners in detention camps in the former Yugoslavia, as well as Vietnam veterans who experienced isolation. These studies showed that prisoners who had experienced solitary confinement demonstrated similar brain activity to those who’d suffered a severe head injury, noting that “Without sustained social interaction, the human brain may become as impaired as one that has incurred a traumatic injury.”
We aren’t meant to be solitary creatures. Your “pandemic brain” is real. That fogginess, the lack of productivity, can be attributed to many things, including anxiety, but being kept apart from other humans is a big part of it too. Be kind to yourself, give yourself grace, and join others virtually. Be it an app, a class, a Facebook group, a chat room, or a livestream, someone somewhere is out there waiting to connect with you too.
The good news? We are lucky enough to live in an era of near limitless ways to interact socially online. Sure, it is different, but it is something. It’s important. The best thing about this type of social interaction is being able to hone in on your specific interests, though I’d caution you against getting caught in an online echo chamber. Diversity of interests, personality, and opinion make for a richer experience, with opportunities for connecting and expanding your worldview.
Here are a few suggestions on ways to socialize while staying home and staying safe. Communicating with other humans is good for you, physically and mentally.
Interactive Livestreams on Twitch:
Twitch is best known as a streaming service for video game fans, but it offers multiple streams appealing to different interests. This is more than passive watching (although that is an option, too) as Twitch livestream channels also have chat rooms. Twitch is fun for people who like multi-tasking because the chat rooms for popular livestream channels can get busy with chatter.
While people watch the Twitch hosts play a video game, film a live podcast, make music or art, mix cocktails, or dance, they can comment on what they’re watching, make suggestions, ask questions, crack jokes, and get to know each other (by Twitch handle, so it is still as anonymous as you want it to be) in the chat room. The best hosts take time every so often to interact directly with the chat room questions and comments.
Many Twitch channels develop loyal followers who get to know each other, thus forming communities. I have participated in the Alamo Drafthouse Master Pancake movie mocks a few times because they are fun and local to Austin, where I live. Plus, in my non-quarantine life, I would go to Master Pancake shows live sometimes. The chat room feels familiar in a nice way. While watching online is free, you can (and totally should) tip them.
Online trivia in real time:
There are some good options for real-time online trivia, but I’m impressed with the NYC Trivia League’s model. They have trivia games online on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The NYC Trivia League seems to have figured out a good way to run the game live while keeping answers private from the other teams. They run games on Instagram Live with a live video of the host, and participants answer via the question feature. Clever!
Online book club:
First I have to shout out my Austin local independent bookstore, BookPeople, because they are fantastic. They run book clubs throughout the year, along with readings, book signings, and all things book-related. BookPeople hosts several online book clubs during these lockdown days, and most people will find something that appeals to them.
I’m also impressed with this list from Hugo House, a writer’s resource based out of Seattle. This list includes Instagram and Goodread book clubs, book clubs for Black women, rebels, and poetry lovers. The Financial Diet recommends the Reddit book club, if you are comfortable with the Reddit format. Please note that it’s a busy place, but if you like Reddit, you already know this.
Cooking class or virtual tasting:
This is doubly satisfying because you can follow these chefs in real time, and you end up with a meal. There are a couple on Instagram Live, such as The Culinistas or Chef Massimo Bottura.
You can also participate in virtual tastings for wine, whiskey, or chocolate, though you will have to buy the product to participate in the classes (usually held over Zoom or Facebook Live). If you are in Austin, Dallas, or Houston, I recommend BeenThere Locals. The cost of the course includes the wine, spirits, or cooking kit in most cases, and all of the money goes to the business and expert hosting the class.
Look for your favorite wine, spirits, cheese, chocolate makers, and chefs that are local to you to find a similar experience. Most either prepare the class kit for pickup or delivery within a local area.
Quarantine chat:
To interact with another quarantined person seeking social interaction, there’s Quarantine Chat. Quarantine chat is one of the ways to connect through the Dialup app, available on iOS and Android devices. Sign up to make and receive calls when you want to speak with someone. The Dialup app pairs you randomly with another person for a phone conversation, at a scheduled time, either with anyone or with someone with shared interests.
Quarantine chat takes it a step further with calls at random times. When your quarantine chat caller calls, you will not see their number (or they yours), only the “Quarantine Chat” caller ID. If you are unable to pick up when they call, they will be connected with someone else, so there is no pressure to answer. It’s nice to hear someone else’s voice, merely to talk about what you’ve been cooking or what hilarious thing your pet is doing.
Play Uno:
Uno Freak lets people set up games and play Uno online with friends or strangers. Players do not need to register or download anything to play. Uno Freak is web-based.
Talk to mental health professionals:
If your state of loneliness starts sliding toward depression, call someone you can speak to right away to talk over your concerns. When in doubt, call a trained professional! Here are a few resources:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET, 800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to this text line 24/7 for someone to text with who will also be able to refer you to other resources: U.S. and Canada: 74174, U.K. 85258, Ireland: 50808.
- Psych Central has put together this comprehensive list of crisis intervention specialists and ways to contact them immediately.
There are many ways to connect even though we are physically apart. These are just a few real time ways to interact with others online. If you want something a little more flesh and blood, take a walk around the block or even sit in a chair in front of where you live.
Wave at people from afar, and remember that we have lots of brilliant doctors and scientists working on a way out of this. Hang in there, buddy. I’m rooting for you. I’m rooting for all of us.
Dee Copeland
February 18, 2008 at 2:10 pm
What’s wrong with being a multi-author blog? Isn’t the definition a blog with several authors? We can talk semantics, but I guess I’m not catching the difference except if you’ve been reading the backlash against M.A.
Chris Lengquist
February 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm
The circle reminds me of the Whos down in Whoville. 🙂
Matthew Rathbun
February 18, 2008 at 2:38 pm
This is exactly why it’s one of the only Blogs that I recommend my students go and read… Not trying to inflate any egos, but here I know they’ll get content that isn’t intended to just get noticed. It’s a fantastic group of contributers. The best I’ve seen thus far…
Vlad
February 18, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I see no problem with MA blogs at all. I subscribe to many of such blogs.
Linda Davis
February 18, 2008 at 3:01 pm
You’re not?
Chris Johnson
February 18, 2008 at 3:11 pm
“we’re different just like everyone else.”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAANYway…you are certainly more upbeat than the rest.
No names, no names.
But…it’s always inhereintly limiting (or self righteous) to compare ones self to others.
Dee Copeland
February 18, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I write for GeekEstateBlog, an MA blog, so don’t have a problem either. The talent at AgentGenuis is the best in blogging, of course. Here’s my solution. You can call it a constructive content blah-de-blah.
…I’ll call it a “multi-author talent pool of blog goodness”.
Vicki Moore
February 18, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I write for AG because I was invited. I had no idea that I would be welcomed into a group of supportive, positive people. You can go anywhere – blog, tv, radio, newspaper – to find negative sound bites. What I appreciate about AG is the thoughtfulness of the writing and the willingness to share ideas and make suggestions as opposed to the automatic response of our nature as humans to gravitate and be hypnotized by the rubber-necking and ambulance chasing that perpetuates the rest of our lives.
In my mind, it takes tremendous strength and fortitude to be positive and create a forum of new, fresh ideas. It takes effort to be constructive. It’s simple and formulaic to follow the paths of others to avoid criticism. Being a trailblazer is no easy task. It comes with much sacrifice, work and sometimes ridicule. Rock on AG.
Daniel Rothamel
February 18, 2008 at 4:09 pm
AgentGenius is, both by definition and in practice, a multi-author blog AND a Constructive Content Community. Much like Vicki, I write for AG because I was invited. I accepted that invitation because it was pretty clear to me right up front that what is being done here at AG is a little bit different than what is found at the run-of-the-mill MAB. It’s good, but not perfect, and it is always improving. There is a collaboration and cooperation that is unique, and there is a good blend of the conceptual and the factual.
You can call it whatever you want, but I call it a juicy, satisfying, steak that lives up to the promise of the it’s seductive sizzle.
Ines
February 18, 2008 at 9:34 pm
whatever you want to call it – I am honored to be a part of it, even when I disagree with some of the contributors I have not felt embarrassed or ashamed to be a part of this group. The discussion is always healthy and we can agree to disagree…..plus I love Benn and Lani watching my back 😉
Robert D. Ashby
February 19, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Ah, but isn’t it genius to call itself something else and arouse discussion?
I am also very thankful to be a part of the community, surrounded by such talent.