Website design By BotEap.comMany of us baby boomers led active and social lives before the coronavirus pandemic abruptly disrupted our routines. With social distancing and quarantine to help slow the spread of the virus, it’s easy to feel lonely, isolated, and depressed. What can we do?

Website design By BotEap.comJust because we can’t be physically together doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected and socialize safely, which isn’t too difficult, thanks to technology. We can still have some fun instead of wasting ourselves here in Coronaville.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you’re not up to date with the latest offerings that help you socialize virtually, here are some options:

Website design By BotEap.com* If you haven’t started using Zoom, it’s pretty amazing and allows you to host up to 100 people. Do we have a budget? They have a free plan that allows you an unlimited number of meetings as long as you keep each meeting no longer than 40 minutes.

Website design By BotEap.com* Houseparty is a free app that allows eight people to make a video call at the same time. You’ll find fun activities to do with your friends once you’ve joined. For example, you can play games such as entertainment trivia or play music.

Website design By BotEap.com* Marco Polo allows you to send messages that last only a few seconds. But unlike Snapchat, the app saves videos so you can have an ongoing conversation with your friend or a group of friends.

Website design By BotEap.com* Of course, there’s still Facetime, which can now host up to 32 people (if everyone has the latest version of iOS), Google Hangouts, and Skype.

Website design By BotEap.comOkay, let’s say you’re ready to go. Not sure how to entertain virtually? Or maybe you dread engaging in conversations in virtual social settings? Here are some great ideas to help you:

Website design By BotEap.comHost a virtual happy hour

Website design By BotEap.comVirtual happy hours can bring a bit of normalcy and fun back into our lives while giving us something to look forward to during these trying days. My husband and I were recently invited to one and were amazed at how relaxing this virtual social event can be. The host had everyone prepare their favorite drink and then share the recipe with the other guests. We also share tips on how to get through the pandemic. One couple explained how they do their grocery shopping online through Instacart, which I hadn’t heard of before. Another explained that there was a secret “retouch” filter in Zoom that helps you look your best (my vanity loved this tip!).

Website design By BotEap.comDo you need something to break the ice? Start with a virtual check-in to see how everyone is doing. What Netflix show do you binge on while in quarantine? What movies or books would you recommend? What great podcast have you discovered? What new music have you found? What exercise videos inspire you?

Website design By BotEap.comOr have guests take a virtual tour of the room they’re calling from and point out something fascinating. Maybe it’s a souvenir from another country, a childhood treasure, or a manuscript of a book they’ve just started writing. Once people have had a drink, they might be willing to share the most embarrassing item of clothing they wore during quarantine. Or share hidden talents. Can they touch their noses with their tongues or move their ears? That’s always good for a laugh! Do you want to put everyone in a cheerful mood? Ask people what their first trip or vacation will be once everything is back to normal.

Website design By BotEap.comMake a training video with a friend on Zoom

Website design By BotEap.comFeeling uninspired to exercise? Are you used to exercising in a group at the gym? There are plenty of YouTube channels, like Fitness Blender, packed with free at-home workouts. Invite a friend or two to join you on Zoom and click the screen share button. Websites like Orangetheory offer free daily trainings. Many fitness studios like Retro Fitness have also started streaming live exercise classes for free on Facebook.

Website design By BotEap.comEnjoy virtual movie nights

Website design By BotEap.comYou can also use Zoom’s screen sharing feature to watch a movie with friends. Or try Netflix Party, an extension that allows multiple Netflix users to watch a show together from different locations. It syncs your video and has a group chat feature that allows you to exchange comments.

Website design By BotEap.comIf that’s too much technology for you, agree to watch the same movie or show and jump on the phone, Skype, or FaceTime to talk later.

Website design By BotEap.comHost a virtual dinner with friends

Website design By BotEap.comSince restaurants have been banned, my husband and I offered to pick up takeout from a local restaurant and drop it off at our friend’s doorstep. Then we connect to Zoom to have dinner together virtually, with a white tablecloth, flowers and candles.

Website design By BotEap.comDo you prefer to cook at home? Invite guests to cook their favorite meal on Zoom and share the recipe with others. You could even have a theme. Maybe everyone will dress up island style and make a Hawaiian chicken dish. Or he dresses in the style of the 70s and makes fondue. Bonus points if you make your Zoom background match the theme.

Website design By BotEap.comHave a virtual game night

Website design By BotEap.comCharades or Karaoke can work using Zoom or Houseparty. Two Truths and a Lie is another simple yet entertaining game that will help everyone learn more about each other. Have your guests tell two true statements and one lie and have people guess which is which. Play for bragging rights to see who really knows each other better.

Website design By BotEap.comOr maybe you’ve seen Instagram Social Distancing Bingo doing the rounds. Instead of letters and numbers, these bingo boards list activities that people do during quarantine. Items on the board might include “I stayed in my pajamas for two days straight,” “I finished a puzzle,” “I snacked all day,” “I googled my symptoms,” “I baked for fun,” or “I shopped at line”. You can make a free space to wash your hands. You can find sample boards by searching the hashtag #socialdistancingbingo on Instagram or by searching Google for “social distancing bingo”. If you don’t want to play on Instagram, create your own bingo boards and text or email them to your friends, then come together virtually to play.

Website design By BotEap.comDid you know that you can play board games with friends online on your computer or mobile app? Digital versions of Boggle, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Risk, Uno, Scattergories, and Scrabble are available and can be played with friends. Or try Cluedo, an app that is a digital version of the classic Clue mystery game. While the board looks different, thanks to the 3D graphics, this adaptation stays mostly true to the board game version and is great for families.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *