Navigating Social Distancing Gatherings During COVID-19

Social Distance Gatherings Can Work During COVID19

The call for social distancing means a lot of canceled plans -- from big events like parties, weddings or vacations, to smaller gatherings like religious services, brunch with friends or workout classes. But as quickly as social distancing has become the norm, Americans are adapting and not letting it prevent them from having fun and enjoying everyday life. Just take a clue from Italy, who has been in lock down the longest, yet found unique ways to socialize in order to stay sane!

Who we gather with and how we gather depends on what we think of as normal or abnormal; recognizing that this is different for all of us. It affects and shapes our sense of identity and our sense of who we are. It’s pretty fundamental when you think about it. Increased social fragmentation and loneliness have created what has been coined as "Quarantine Fatigue" and has affected our sense of well-being. 

Individual Mini Bundt Cakes

I’ve been wondering about how we’ll think about parties after this passes. We may be like, “We missed social interaction so much, let’s have a party for literally everything!”  We’ll re-imagine what we can do to make warmth and meaning even when we’re not physically together. I think one of the biggest opportunities is to find other ways to create warmth across distances. I think when all this is over, we’ll be running toward each other and being very deeply grateful for and not taking for granted the way we gather. One of the things that ends up happening when you can’t actually get together is you don’t take it for granted.

Individual Apps in Coffee Cups

Meantime, I've been thinking of ways to hold gatherings now that the warmer weather is here, where we can socially distance outdoors and maintain the connections that are so meaningful to us. Here are just a few ideas:

• Set chairs apart 6 ft. in groups of 2 (per couple)
• Have individual bottles of water and adult beverages with plastic glasses set up on a bar for easy access
• Food should be individually wrapped in plastic bags, coffee cups or plastic plates for each couple or group so there is no cross contamination and include wrapped plasticware
• Relax and enjoy the fact that you can reconnect by socially distancing

Interested in knowing more about how to stay sane during these uncertain times of COVID-19? I'll be a guest of Omena's At a Night At the Round Table to discuss Staying Sane During COVID-19 Quarantine to discuss this very topic, among others.  Please tune in at 10 PM on Thursday, May 21st and join me in the discussion:

A Night At The Roundtable

https://bbsradio.com/anightattheroundtable  

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