Creative ways people are staying connected during isolation

As the seriousness of COVID-19 increases, as does the stress and anxiety of being separated from friends and family.

Luckily, it’s 2020 and we are graced with the internet, allowing us to share and connect at a time when it’s more important than ever before.

Here are some of the most creative ways people are staying connected during this period of isolation.

Houseparty and Zoom conference calling 

While video conferencing is a staple in offices, it has made its way into more lounge rooms than ever before.

Houseparty has been around since 2016, but has just made its way up the app store charts in the past few weeks. A video chat app for up to eight people at a time, Houseparty also includes games, a chat function and the ability to leave your friend a video message.

This is an easy app for the not-so-tech-savvy people in your life.

Zoom, on the other hand, has been created with the aim of being used in workplaces. But while many people began using it when they were working from home, it has now made its way into social connection too.

Zoom is also great for sharing meals, a practice that has been proven to boost mental wellbeing.

“Not being able to share meals with friends and family, to gather at others’ tables or pull up more chairs to our own, has been one of the most disconcerting effects of the coronavirus,” wrote Emily Heil for The Washington Post.

Teddy bear hunts 

People are sitting teddy bears in their front window, so parents (or grandparents) with cooped-up kids can walk around their local suburb on a #teddybearhunt making the suburb seem friendlier. Here’s my ancient, one-eyed Teddy with Snoodle, the rabbit. Put a bear in your window

Teddy bears and rainbow pictures have been appearing in windows and on balconies in a bid to create some social distancing joy for children cooped up at home.

The idea is that when parents take their children for walks, they can spot the bears and rainbows, helping them stay entertained and upbeat.

Online painting classes 

Painting has quickly taken one of the top spots in terms of activities at home, and pre-coronavirus paint and sip classes were taking off in capital cities.

Now businesses such as Cork and Chroma have taken their classes online. For $20, you can log in and take a step-by-step tutorial from an expert. For a little extra, you can have a full set of equipment sent straight to your door.

Sounds like a great way to spend an evening.

Netflix watch parties

If your movie night or cinema date is what you’re missing in your life, Netflix watch parties could be the answer.

Basically, it means you can watch a movie at the exact same time as friends and family, creating a sense of connection. You can laugh together, chat about the movie and nobody will be trying to steal your popcorn.

Online gigs and DJ sets

DJs and artists have taken to social media on the weekends, using their platforms to encourage young people to stay home and party with their favourite music in their lounge room. For example, Triple J radio host Bridget Hustwaite has been enlisting her musical pals for the past two weekends, gathering over 40 Australian artists and streaming them live through her Instagram page.