Something that people seem to forget is that the most important relationship that you are ever going to have in your life is the one you have with yourself. Every other relationship is going to be secondary, and this type of relationship comes naturally to us. How you feel about yourself and the way you treat yourself is the most important thing in your life, but this is easy to forget. That is why in this article, we are going to be looking at some of the ways that you can work on yourself. By the time you have finished reading, you should have a good idea about how you can work on the relationship you have with yourself.

Learn To Forgive

One of the things that you can learn is how to forgive. Some things in the world seem impossible to forgive, but something you have to come to terms with before forgiving is that you are the one who is holding on. If you are not forgiving, whether it be yourself or someone else, you are giving in to something that is hurting you. Without forgiveness, there is only going to be hurt, and you need to learn to let this go if you want to improve yourself. 

Think about it this way: If you are holding a piece of rope that is being pulled in a different direction, and you are holding on tight, eventually you’re going to have burns on your hand. You think it’s the right thing to do, but you’re only getting hurt, and you can only become free by releasing the rope. Set the rope free and forgive, because you deserve the peace and forgiveness will bring this to you.

Related: How to build a Strong Relationship with Yourself

Try To Eat Healthier

A lot of the time, we eat absent-mindedly without thinking about what we are actually eating. The food looks good at the time, and that’s a good enough reason to eat it, right? Sometimes yes, but other times you need to consider the food that is good for you and your health. You need to be eating food that is nourishing you and providing all the vitamins and nutrients that you need to stay healthy. At the end of the day, that is what food is for, so you need to make those smart choices and choose the correct food.

We’re not saying that you can’t indulge every now and then, but if you want to work on yourself, you need to be healthy.

Identify How Serious a Situation is

Try to stop taking everything in your life so seriously. Not everything is as serious as it seems, so learn to ease up a little. It’s not going to be easy, so take it step by step. There’s not always a hidden meaning in every word or every action. You don’t need to analyze every single situation with a microscope. Lighten up, feel that burden lift off you.

Sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to, but you need to use these times to learn and grow. Don’t let them change who you are for the worse and create a cloud of negativity over you. See all experiences as a learning curve, and a chance to better yourself where you can. 

Spend More Time Reflecting

What do you think about things? Keep in mind that not every thought you have needs your attention, nor warrants it. You want to be picky about the thoughts that you decide to give your attention to because these are the ones that will become the experiences of your life. There are sites like VP Legacies who have courses such as Personal Connection 101, How To Build A Strong Relationship With Yourself, and How To Personally Connect In The Midst Of A Global Pandemic, the last of these is currently free for you to take! Things like this will help you connect to yourself, and this, in turn, will help with the way that you think.

Everything that we do makes up who we are. It reflects who we are, and the relationship that we have with ourselves, the decisions you make, and the ones that you don’t. If you are going to try to change the outside, and the acts that you are committing, you’ve got to first commit to changing the inside.

Spend Less Time on Social Media

Social media is wonderful in many ways. Social media brings people together, allows you to stay connected with those that you love and share your life experiences. However, it can also be the cause of many problems. Always comparing your life to what other people are portraying on social media can really suck, and the truth is, you never really know what is happening in a person’s life aside from what that a person is posting. That is why you need to limit how much you are using social media. Start with something simple like taking a day in the week off. Live in the real world, and not in the one that has been created on the internet.

You never know, you might find that you actually like it and you want to make your break from social media more of a regular thing. It will help you connect with yourself, rather than comparing yourself to others. You will find more peace knowing who you are than trying to figure out who others are or who you should be.

Related: How to Deal With Social Anxiety in Your Everyday Life

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do to work on yourself. It’s all about you, and that relationship you cultivate with yourself, so go, be free, work on who you are!

Sometimes working from home can be a lonely task, especially now when the world is experiencing the height of a pandemic. It is not always easy to cope with, and sometimes dealing with loneliness can be the worst thing in the world, but there are things that you can do to try and combat this feeling. You might not see it now, but by the time you have finished reading this article, you are going to have a couple of ideas on what you should do if you are feeling lonely when working from home.

Related: Staying Engaged When You’re Home Alone

Move During Your Break

One of the things that are very beneficial to your health and mental space is making sure that you are moving during your breaks throughout the day. Just because you are working from home does not mean that you should stop being active. 

Taking breaks is important, so if you haven’t been moving regularly, then you should get into the habit of it. Going for a walk is one of the best things you can do in a short period of time. Head to the closest park and go for a walk around in nature for a little while before getting back to work. You will feel much better for having gone outside for a little while.

Or, if you don’t want to go outside because you think it will interrupt your workflow, stay at home and do some simple exercises. As long as it gets your body moving, it doesn’t matter what you choose to do. You definitely don’t want to become a couch potato, and regular movement is the best way to avoid this.

Set Up Virtual Meetings

If you are feeling lonely during Social Distancing, something you could consider is setting up virtual meetings. It’s always nice to talk to other people, and even if they are not physically with you, that shouldn’t stop you from having meetings to discuss projects or work. Talk to your clients or others that you work with, and arrange something through a platform such as Skype or one of the many other platforms. This will help you to feel less alone as it will give you the chance to interact with other people who are working on the same things that you are.

You can even set these up so that they are a weekly occurrence, and you can set them up with a range of different people. Organize times to talk to your clients, and time to talk to the people that you work with so that you have everything you need for these meetings. Just don’t forget that they are actually meetings, and you need to look professional!

Related: 8 Tips for Effective Communication Online

Look For Help Coping

There are plenty of sites out there, such as VP Legacies that are there to help you cope with feelings such as loneliness. It’s common, so you shouldn’t feel bad or ashamed for feeling the way you do. It’s hard to be on your own a lot, and when you work from home, this can sometimes be the case. 

VP Legacies offer a number of different courses that you can take to help you find happiness. These include Personal Connection 101, How To Build A Relationship With Yourself, and How To Personally Connect – Pandemic. 

The last course that we mentioned is currently free for people to take, which is an added benefit. Companies like this also have a daily life on Facebook and Instagram to talk to their followers and help in any way that they can.

It’s okay to admit that you need help coping, and that is exactly what sites like this are for. It’s okay not to be okay with feeling lonely, you just need help figuring out what to do about it.

You’re Not Actually Alone

Something that is important to remember is that you are not actually alone. Just because someone might not physically be there with you, there are likely still people around to help you. While it is true that being lonely has been connected with higher productivity levels because it pushes you to do more work, you can’t do it alone. You need to actively create a personal community around you that is going to be there to help you. If you don’t do this, then you might end up not being able to get out of your pit of loneliness in the future.

As well as this, there are going to be others around like your friends and family. Make sure to call and check in with them so that they can remind you that you aren’t on your own. Sometimes this is all you need to make you feel better because, unfortunately, sometimes being an entrepreneur and working from home is difficult and isolating.

Find Others Like You

We just talked a little about building up a community, and finding others like you is a great way to start. There are plenty of forums online that you can use to help you find other people who are in the same boat as you. It might take a little while for you to feel this sense of community, but it is definitely going to be worth it when you get there.

Trust us when we say that there are plenty of people who feel the way you do and are looking for a community in the same way, it’s just a matter of finding them. You can make posts on social media boards and find some sites that are set up with the specific intention of helping people find each other. It’s a fantastic way of building up those around you and coming to realize that you don’t have to feel lonely working from home.

Related: Dealing with Loneliness When You’re Social Distancing

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now have some ideas about what you can do if you are feeling lonely working from home, especially right now when the pandemic is in full swing. Good luck, and we hope you start to feel better soon!

Social distancing is necessary right now, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose touch with your friends. There are plenty of things that you can do to ensure that you stay connected with the people that you care about, and that’s exactly what we’re going to be looking at in this article. When you get to the end of this article, you should know some of the ways that you can connect with your friends during social distancing. If you want to know more, keep reading down below.

Related: Dealing with Loneliness When You’re Social Distancing

Make Use Of Social Media

You are going to have to make use of social media. Social media is how a lot of people stay connected even when social distancing wasn’t necessary, but now that it is, it’s become more critical than ever. With all the different platforms, this isn’t going to be too much of an issue, and if you don’t have everyone that you need on there, it’s time to get adding. The significant part about social media is that you can keep in contact with people in several different ways. You can do it through posting, commenting on their posts,  private messaging, and much more. There are lots of options to consider, so it’s not difficult to connect.

If you want to connect with more people, then you need to have as many social media accounts as possible. This way, you are going to have access to more of the population rather than just your friends. If you think about it, social distancing can also be a great way to meet new friends online, just make sure that you don’t go meeting them on your own when this is over! Always stay safe on social media.

Spend Time With Those Who Are With You

Ensure that you are making time for those that you are in isolation with. Think about the people who are in the home with you, and try to find plenty of time to spend with them. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be on your own or taking the time to catch up with the people who aren’t at home with you, but don’t forget about those who are. Make time to sit down with each other, talk, watch a movie, play a game, do whatever you want to. Connecting with people is about more than just talking to them over the phone.

In fact, making time for those who are at home with you is a great way to stop yourself from feeling lonely. When it comes to social distancing, it’s not hard to end up feeling a little lonely, but spending time with those who are around is a great way to combat this. Activities, like eating meals together or going on short walks, can bring joy during the pandemic!

Phone And Video Calling

Something that has been around for a long time now is phone and video calling, so you are going to want to make use of this as much as you can. You are separated from those that you love, but you’re still going to want to hear their voice and see their face, so this is going to be necessary. You don’t want to underestimate the power of a good FaceTime call with your best friend. If you are used to seeing them a few times a week, the change is going to be hard, but video calling makes it a lot easier.

A lot of phones have video calling functions, but if they don’t, then use a computer.

There are apps that allow you to do group calls so you can talk to multiple friends at the same time! Nobody has to lose touch, and everyone can stay connected easily.

Related: 8 Tips for Effective Communication Online

Don’t Forget About You

When you are connecting with friends, you don’t want to forget about connecting with yourself. There are sites like VP Legacies that have courses you can take to help with this. Personal Connection 101, How To Build A Strong Relationship With Yourself, and our live show on Instagram and Facebook How To Personally Connect In The Midst Of A Global Pandemicare courses that will change the way you communicate during the COVID-19 crisis. These courses will give you the strategies you need to connect with yourself as well as colleagues, friends, and family during the pandemic. 

The courses show you how connecting with yourself is going to be helpful when connecting with your friends. Keeping yourself grounded and knowing who you will help ensure that you are connecting with others during this tough period of time.

Make Plans For When It’s Over

You should also try to make plans when social distancing comes to an end. It may not look like this virus will go away soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the ball rolling. Think of things that you always love to do, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Obviously, you aren’t going to be able to put an exact date on the plans, but coming up with things to do together is going to help make you feel connected with your friends. Knowing that there are plans in place for when this is all over is going to make you feel so much better.

Not only that, but it will give you and your friends something to look forward to, knowing that you’ll be together when you can.

We hope that you have found this article helpful in showing you ways that you can connect with your friends during the pandemic. We know social distancing is tough, but with these tips, it can make the situation more enjoyable.

When we aren’t face-to-face with our friends — hanging out at bars, attending brunch, organizing board game nights — it can be easy to forget something very, very important when it comes to maintaining your personal connections with people: checking in on your friends. 

Because of the coronavirus and our requirement to stay isolated, we have lost our sense of routine. Maybe you used to wake up and text your friends to find out what they’re up to after work. Or you’d all go through the week knowing that you’d get together on the weekend. But because of social distancing, we have fallen into complacency with our friends. Why text them when you can’t go grab a drink later? Why call them when you can’t plan something for the weekend? 

But it’s actually more important than ever — for friends and ourselves — to stay in touch, even if it’s just a short text. At VP Legacies, we know the importance of building and maintaining our personal relationships. That’s why we offer our Personal Connection 101 course, helping you have deeper conversations with your friends and other loved ones. But sometimes all it takes is a “Hello, how are you?” text. 

Who Should You Be Checking in With?

We aren’t saying to run down your entire Facebook “friends” list and message everyone on there. But if there’s someone who crosses your mind and you realize you haven’t spoken to them in a while, reach out to them. Ask them how they’ve been doing or what they’re up to. Cell phones have made this easier than ever. 

If you have friends who are going through something — a rough relationship, a breakup, a job transition, a move, a loss in the family, depression — these are friends you should prioritize if you only have so much energy and time to check-in. For people dealing with hardships, social distancing and quarantine has only made it harder. There are less distractions and less interactions, making your quick text more meaningful than ever.

Okay, so what is checking in? Is it a quick “hello” text? Is it a phone call? Is it asking them if they’d like to video chat? Well, each friend requires something different. You most likely know if your friends like texting over calling, or if they appreciate a deep conversation once in a while. And you also know what you have the energy to provide to them without exhausting yourself during this difficult time. Remember, you can only help others if you’re well enough yourself. 

Related: How to Build a Strong Relationship with Yourself

A Quick Text Message

Cell phones have made staying in touch easier than ever. In fact, they’ve given us very little excuse NOT to check-in. Everyone knows how fast it is to shoot over a text. That makes it even more hurtful when you don’t make the effort to send over a text to your friend. Whether it’s over Facebook messenger, another social platform, text, or whatever app you have on your phone, why not send over a short message to let them know you’re thinking of them? 

If you know they’re going through something difficult, don’t be afraid to address it. Tell them you’re thinking of them during this time, sending them good energy, prayers, or whatever is appropriate for that individual. 

Sometimes we don’t send over these simple texts because we don’t have the time or energy to respond to the conversation that might ensue from it. Well, that’s the other beauty of texts and cell phones. Set your boundary ahead of time. Tell them you’re about to clock into work, but you just wanted to let them know how much you care. Or tell them you’re about to make dinner, but you just wanted them to know you’re thinking of them during this time. 

Just Listen

If you do have the time and energy, sometimes it’s important to just listen. They may not be looking for advice. They may not even be looking for you to agree. During this time of social distancing, it’s just nice to have someone there listening to something they may have been bottling up inside since they have nobody to talk to. 

Like before, you can make your boundaries known by letting them know you only have a certain amount of time to talk. But remember to be present and responsive when you are giving them that time to talk. They have to feel that you care or they may as well be ranting to their cat. 

Give Advice

Sometimes when you hear someone’s problem and it sounds familiar you want to chime in with advice or your experience with the subject matter. Remember that almost nobody wants unsolicited advice. But if they do ask for your opinion on a problem they’re having, you’re most definitely allowed to share your own experience or take on the situation at hand. Just remember: 

Your friend may want something different than you. Just because you have both gone through the same struggle, doesn’t mean that they want the same outcome as you. Keep your friend’s interests, personality and goals in mind when giving advice, so it doesn’t come across like you think there’s only one “correct” way to deal with things. 

Your advice has limits. On the other hand, sometimes it will be a topic you know little to nothing about. Maybe they’re dealing with a tough project at work, but you’re not familiar with that field at all. You can still offer them a new perspective, but you don’t want to make your advice sound matter-of-fact. Recognize that you may not know all the facts or may not know the best way to deal with something you have no experience with. 

They may not want to take your advice. This is often the most frustrating part to deal with. You hear a friend going through something hard and you want to help. You feel you have the solution that will end their suffering. But they turn down your idea. It makes you mad because you care. But keep in mind that they have the right to choose what to do, even if you don’t agree with it. Arguing will only make them feel worse. And sometimes they may have already tried the advice you’ve given and it didn’t work. 

Basically, advice is supposed to show support and offer a new perspective. It’s not supposed to be the start of an argument or a way to demand your friend see things your way. They may not and that’s okay. The important thing is that you showed you cared. 

Offering Practical Solutions and Services

Before the pandemic, this was a great way to connect with your friends and show you care. You could come over with their favorite food and board games when they were sick. You could help them fix their car or decorate for their wedding. For many people, their desired love language is acts of service, so that was how you supported them. But now what? 

There are still ways you can show you care without breaking social distancing guidelines. Bake them something and drop it off at their house. Order them something fun on Amazon and surprise them with the package. Sew them a mask and mail it to them. Have them drop their car off at your house if you have the tools and time to fix something. 

It’s not really about the service itself. It’s about making the effort and showing you still want to connect with them during this time and make sure they’re okay. 

VP Legacies has a live show on Facebook and Instagram about a connecting in the midst of a global pandemic. Things are different now. We can’t simply hang out with our friends to show we care or to connect with them throughout the week. So we wanted to help you maintain these connections with this ongoing and free course about spending time with your loved ones during this difficult time. 

We can all do more right now to check in with your friends during the pandemic. Whether it’s dropping off cupcakes or simply sending a text asking how they’re doing, it’s all about showing you’re still thinking of them. It can feel like we’re losing our strong connections with friends now that we can’t bond over a tough hike or fun gathering. But don’t let these friendships fade away. 

Make sure you’re checking in with friends. It’s needed more than ever before. 

According to recent research, 77 percent of people experience some level of anxiety when they talk on the phone. Forty-one percent of these people say that this anxiety is a regular occurrence.

There are lots of reasons for this anxiety, but for many people, it stems from not knowing what to talk about. For folks who want to have a personal connection with friends or loved ones but have a hard time figuring out what to talk about on the phone, here are some foolproof tips to try.

Related: How to Keep in Touch With Friends

Consider the Context

A good starting point when figuring out what to talk about the phone is to consider the context of a call. This includes asking questions like “Who’s involved in this conversation with you?”, “Why are they calling?”, and “How do I know them?” 

The following are some of the most common people with whom you’re likely to have phone conversations on a regular basis:

Friends

First, friends. Conversations with friends can be about almost anything, from catching up and going over what each person has been up to since they last talked to making arrangements for a future get-together. 

Ideally, talking to a friend on the phone should be the least nerve-wracking type of call. If it’s been a long time since the last conversation, though, it can be a bit awkward, especially in the beginning.

Family

Next is family phone calls. Family phone calls are probably the most common type of phone call for most people. They can be anxiety-inducing, though, depending on which family member is calling and the type of relationship one has with that person.

Family phone calls can cover a wide range of topics, too. Like phone calls with friends, their primary purpose can be simply to catch up and see how the person is doing. They can also be geared toward planning an event or arranging an in-person meeting. 

Coworkers

Plenty of people also find themselves having conversations on the phone with coworkers on a regular basis. 

Phone calls with co-workers tend to have the least amount of variety — in most cases, if a coworker is calling, it’s to talk about something work-related. Sometimes, this can help to ease phone anxiety, since the parameters of the conversation are better understood and the person talking is (hopefully) less likely to drift into unknown or uncomfortable territory. If you are still having trouble, VP Legacies have a free online course that runs live daily on facebook an instagram that can show you how to connect with coworkers and colleagues.

Of course, if a person finds their job to be very stressful, the idea of taking a phone call from a coworker can cause a lot of anxiety. 

Have a Couple of Prepared Topics

When a person is getting ready to make a phone call to anyone (a friend, a family member, or a co-worker), it helps to have a couple of topics prepared and ready to go before picking up the phone. This helps them to guide the conversation and avoid any awkward pauses. You can also check out VP Legacies course on building a relationship with yourself. It shows you how to be more confident and provide strategies to connect with people on a personal level.

The types of topics one prepares will vary depending on whom they’re calling (this is why it’s important to understand the context of the call first). Here are some ideas to consider for each type of call:

Friends

To connect with friends, here are some good topics to cover:

• Current books they’re reading or movies/TV shows they’re watching
• Future travel plans
• How their kids or partner is doing
• How they’re liking their job or school
• Memories from the past involving the two of you (a game you once played, an activity you did together, etc.)

Family

Many of the topics you can address to connect with friends also work for engaging with family members. The following are some other ones that are more family-specific that you might want to have prepared before your conversation as well:

• How another family member (sibling, parent, grandparent, etc.) is doing
• Plans for the next time you’ll all get together
• A recap of the last time you all saw each other and how things went
• Where you’d like to go on the next family vacation

Coworkers

When talking to coworkers on the phone, it’s important to make sure the conversation stays work-appropriate. Here are some topics to have prepared to avoid running into any problems:

• An upcoming project and how your coworker feels about it
• Whether they have any advice to help you improve your standing in the company and qualify for a new position/promotion
• How long they’ve worked for the company and what they like the most about it
• A previous work event, how it went, and how they’d improve it in the future

You can also look at e-learning courses online such as VP Legacies that offer ways to personally connect® with you friends, family, and colleagues as well as tips on connecting with yourself to be more confident and to balance a healthy professional and personal relationship while working. With Vp Legacies, reaching out to talk does not have to be awkward anymore.

Related: Can Social Media Keep Us Connected During Self-Isolation?

Be Flexible and Go Where the Conversation Takes You

It’s a good idea to have some topics prepared to guide the conversation. At the same time, though, callers should also be flexible and willing to adapt if the conversation takes a turn they weren’t expecting. 

If someone is too rigid and refuses to deviate from the topics they prepared beforehand, the person on the other end of the conversation might end up feeling uncomfortable. Failure to be flexible can also make it harder to create a deeper connection, which often goes against the purpose of the call (especially calls that are meant to be purely about catching up or checking in). 

Looking for online courses to help you connect with people during the pandemic? Check out what VP Legacies have to offer.

Casual Conversation Topic Ideas

For folks who are looking to build deeper connections, especially with friends and family, casual phone calls can be a good tool to utilize. By reaching out to check in and see how someone else is doing, the recipient of the call knows that they’re important to the caller and will be more inclined to reach out to them in the future. 

The following are some casual conversation topic ideas worth keeping in mind when making these calls:

• What was the last funny video/TV show/movie you watched?
• What do you do to manage stress?
• What’s something you’re loving right now?
• What plans do you have this weekend/for this upcoming holiday?
• What did you do/where did you go last weekend?
• What’s your favorite thing about work/school?

All of these are good topics to turn to when the conversation starts to lag. They also make great ice breakers to get the conversation started.

Improve customer development and relationship with VP Legacies today

Start Improving Phone Conversations Today

Figuring out what to talk about on the phone can definitely be a challenge. Keeping these tips in mind can make the process less anxiety-inducing, though. 

By remembering these strategies, people who struggle with phone anxiety can feel more confident carrying on conversations. They might even find that, with enough practice, they actually enjoy talking on the phone.

Related: Stuck at Home? Here’s What You Need to Stay in Touch

Keeping in touch with friends is hard work, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Various social media pages, like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, help us with relationship status updates or significant accomplishments, but that’s not enough. 

The problem with social media is that it buries the people that we care about under the most recent news and information. Because of that, we have to rely on in-person interaction to strengthen the relationship. Going to a café to drink coffee or eating dinner together is an opportunity to catch up on the latest events in our friends and family’s lives. 

However, if the whole world is going through a coronavirus pandemic, we are all stuck in our homes. Fortunately, VP Legacies have a free online course on personal connection, which shows people how they can personally connect in the midst of a global pandemic. The course is offered daily and live on Facebook and Instagram. 

Think about it, we are all working at home, and there is a significant physical distance between our loved ones and us. During these lonesome times, we crave social interaction with our friends, family, and colleagues, but we don’t know where to begin.

 Luckily, there are plenty of solutions, and with that in mind, here is how you can keep in touch with friends and family during the tough times.

Related: Social Distancing: Today’s Pandemic and Loneliness Epidemic

Keep it Simple

Whenever we want to stay in touch with someone, there is a chance that they want to stay in touch with us as well. Unfortunately, it could be too awkward to send a message without reason. Some people get around this awkwardness by sending in an exciting article, memes, or funny videos. 

The best thing to do is to send content that is funny, witty, and meaningful to the person. The person who received the content will find it eye-catching and will be persuaded to catch up. Either way, it’s an excellent strategy to stay in touch with the people we love and cherish. 

Sending a friend or family something simple and fun is a quick method to renew a conversation. However, if we haven’t spoken to a particular person for a long time, this type of content may not be enough. When sending something simple and funny, it’s essential to remember all the people that we want to stay in touch with. In fact, it’s advisable to send content to a new mix of people as frequently as possible.

Memories

Recalling happy memories that we share with our friends and family is an excellent way to get back in touch again. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of work to remember every specific event with a particular person, especially when a significant amount of time has passed. 

Luckily, Twitter and Facebook can help resurface all the photos and posts that happened years ago. This is a convenient way of reconnecting, even though it may not encompass the most important memories. 

People who are good at networking and staying in touch are sharp at remembering important memories from the past. After all, they tend to be the ones that take the initiative to capture photos or write down experiences in a journal.

 For people that we genuinely care about, it’s worth saving memories and storing information in an organized manner. When we feel the need to reconnect, we can resurface those funny memories from the past.

Looking to build a meaningful relationship with your friend, family, and colleagues? Check out what VP Legacies can do for you

Relevant Content

This kind of message requires us to follow current events both publicly and personally to connect in a meaningful way with the people we want to stay in touch with. Some people are already using this method, but those who are exceptionally good at it can effectively use other strategies as well, like:

Sending Personal Holiday Wishes

When the holidays come around, it’s time to send out happy wishes like “Happy New Years,” “Merry Christmas,” or “Happy Halloween” to catch up with all contacts.

Birthday wishes

Birthday wishes often contain messages that make us smile or laugh. They may also include a collage of images to resurface all the memories and experiences.

Article of interest

A strategic way of keeping in touch with old friends is finding the topic of interest, and sending an article that contains new information about it. The content can restore a bonding relationship to let our friends know that we care about them.

Virtual Games

A great way to connect with your friends is by sending them a website to your favorite online games and inviting them to play. For example, if your friend loves to play poker, then inviting them to go online to play virtual poker is an excellent strategy to reconnect, bond, and have fun.

Stream movies

It’s impossible to go to the movie theater or invite friends over for movie night when you are doing something called social distancing. Fortunately, you can turn on the WebCam or get on Skype, and pick a movie on Netflix. For example, movies like Frozen, Joker, or Parasite are fun and entertaining. Streamed movies together so you can watch it simultaneously with your loved ones.

Related: How to Maintain Real Connections with Your Professional Network

Virtual Dinner

The worst part about a pandemic is that practically all the restaurants are closed down. Luckily, because of the advancement in technology, we have Skype, WebCam, video cam, and much more. All you have to do is turn on one of these programs, cook dinner, and eat together. You can enjoy a delicious meal while video chatting at the same time.

 Check out VP Legacies to help improve your remote employee’s productivity  

Handwritten Messages

Sending a postcard or letter with handwritten messages is an excellent way to reconnect and keep in touch with friends and family. Even though emails are convenient and fast, a handwritten note reflects a meaningful and nurturing relationship that emails cannot portray. 

Handwritten letters have emotions and personality, and is a great way to reconnect with people that we haven’t spoken to in ages. Keep in mind that technology is just a medium and that a strong relationship can be built without it. 

Just imagine how frequently people get in touch with contacts in distant places before the advancement of technology and the internet. 

Showing That You Care

True friends will always care and reach out to see if everything is OK. They don’t need to have a reason or intention to reconnect; they just reach out because they love and genuinely care about us.  

One of the most horrible reasons that people reconnect is that they have a favor to ask. The lack of care can make it problematic to reconnect with old friends. The best way to keep in touch is to say hello or send something funny and quirky without having any intention or asking for a favor.

Building a Relationship With Yourself

The current coronavirus pandemic has left a lot of people quarantined in their homes. This may be an excellent opportunity for building a relationship with yourself. 

If you are a busy individual, you may notice that there is a lack of time for yourself, and that can be detrimental to your health and well-being. Fortunately, being quarantined can give you time to reflect and think about what you want in life and what makes you happy. Before reaching out to people or keeping in touch with loved ones, it’s essential to have a good relationship with yourself.

If you are unsure about where to start, VP Legacies offers an online course on building a strong relationship with yourself. A lot of people have claimed that while working at home, they learn to enjoy their alone time while also having a flourishing relationship with others. The course offers strategies and techniques to maintain a personal and professional relationship while working from home.

VP Legacies can change the way you network and communicate

So What Does This Means for Introverts and Extroverts?

Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, everyone can benefit from learning various techniques to keep in touch with friends. It doesn’t have to be difficult or awkward, just a couple of meaningful and simple strategies listed above, and you’re on your way to starting long hours of conversation and reminiscing together.

Don’t forget about self-love; it’s vital to have a personal connection with yourself before reaching out to others, especially during the pandemic.

If you want to learn more about building a relationship with people during a pandemic or building a strong relationship with yourself, definitely check out the courses from VP Legacies. They offered online courses to get you through the pandemic. The most valuable course is “How to Personally Connect in The Midst of a Global Pandemic,” which offers a live course on Facebook and Instagram along with other courses such as “Building a Strong Relationship with Yourself.”

With these courses, you’ll be able to maintain a strong flourishing relationship with your friends, family, and colleagues as well as getting to know yourself better during a pandemic.

 So what are you waiting for? check out VP Legacies today.

Related: Can Social Media Keep Us Connected During Self-Isolation?

Social media during the Coronavirus era

By now, almost everyone is familiar with the guidelines recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 coronavirus. More than half the U.S. population is in a state of lockdown, with people leaving their homes solely for necessities and only working if their business performs functions deemed “essential” by local governing authorities. The term “social distancing,” once an outdated phrase associated with the 1918 flu pandemic, is now a part of everyday conversation.

But what kind of conversations are we having as we practice social distancing? This method of self-isolation to limit the coronavirus outbreak has changed the way we communicate with family, friends, and colleagues. In-person meetings have moved to Zoom or Skype and birthday parties have become Facetime and Duo calls.

Though social media was once considered a factor contributing to feelings of loneliness, these platforms have emerged as a means for personal connection during the current lockdown experience. People are finding ways to socialize online to replace the lack of person-to-person engagement. Entire families have found solace in learning TikTok dances while DJs perform nine-hour musical sets on Instagram Live. Here at VP Legacies, we are focusing on ways to stay connected and maintain important relationships through any hardships you may be experiencing. In today’s post, we’ll explore some ways social media can keep us connected during this time of self-isolation.

Related: Working From Home: Tips To Stay Engaged and Connected

How can social media help us stay connected?

There’s no question that social media has a defining place in our lives, especially as we learn to adopt a new lifestyle governed by coronavirus precautions and physical isolation. The CDC has even recognized the important place social media holds in our public consciousness and posted a social media toolkit to ensure correct messaging is being shared online. Why is social media particularly valuable right now as a means of connection?

Connecting through social media can help save money

First, social media exists as an inexpensive means of communication. As mass layoffs sweep the nation, many are feeling the need to save money and focus on connection in a cost-effective manner. Practically every social media app is free to download and use. With applications like Whatsapp, people can make text, video, and voice calls internationally through WiFi rather than getting charged on their phone bills.

Personally Connect with many people at once on social media

Another positive aspect of using social media is the ability to connect with many people in one place. One can find a number of high school acquaintances just by clicking through the “Recommended Friends” list on Facebook. Direct messaging features on Facebook, Instagram and Slack allow the user to connect one-on-one or with a group. 

Easily share memories and moments on social media

Sharing media such as photos, memes, images, and video is only a click away on social media. In fact, one can even share the same image across several social media platforms at once. Instagram allows users to share a photo or video on its own platform and simultaneously on Facebook as well as Twitter.

Video chat through social media

While Zoom and Skype are popular for remote meetings in a professional context, some social media apps, such as Facebook or Whatsapp, allow for video chatting in a casual setting. This allows friends with different smartphone devices to connect easily through a shared platform. With one quick download, users can connect with anyone regardless of whether they’re using an iOs or Android system.

Related: Video Chatting With Friends: How To Make It Fun

What are some different types of social media?

A 2019 report showed there are over 3 billion social media users worldwide, which explains the wide array of social media applications on the market today. From networking apps to specialized interests, there are platforms to suit a number of different social needs. Let’s explore some of those communication needs below.

Friends and Family 

For staying in touch with friends, family, and the general public, the social media options are endless. Users can choose from platforms depending on whether they want to find old friends, share photos or videos, or meet new people. 

• Twitter. One of the most popular and enduring forms of social media, Twitter has become an important means of communication for members of the White House, well-known organizations, and international celebrities. Fame notwithstanding, it’s also a great outlet for pithy expressions, status updates, and news bits (there’s a 280 character limit on Twitter posts, also known as tweets) from the everyday user. You can also post images and videos to Twitter, which others can “like” or “repost” for others to see. Use Twitter if you don’t mind strangers following your account and seeing media you upload to the web.

• Facebook. Facebook is commonly known as a means of catching up with friends and family members. There are even stories of long-lost sweethearts that reunited on Facebook. Facebook allows you to keep your pictures and videos private and only connect with friends that you approve to view your profile (just be sure to review your account’s security settings before posting anything). This multifunctioning platform not only enables direct messaging and group messaging but also offers its users the ability to video chat. Learn how here.

• Instagram. Instagram allows users to post photos, short and long-form videos, and “Instastories,” which are photos or videos that others can view for a 24-hour period. Instagram acts as a sort of digital photobook that your friends and followers can view, like, and comment on. Instagram Live broadcasts, a live streaming video function, have become a popular feature especially during the current lockdown period as well as IGTV videos that can be uploaded and shared on your profile. As with Facebook, you have the ability to keep your profile private if desired or open to the public depending on your account security settings. Those who enjoy viewing, taking, and sharing photos with friends will likely find Instagram a fun app to try.

• Snapchat. If you’ve seen those whimsical selfies of your friends looking like a cartoon character, it’s likely they used a Snapchat account to take the picture. Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app that allows users to message each other, share photos for a 24-hour period, and take wonderfully humorous photos with numerous filters that the company updates on a frequent basis. People who enjoy taking humorous photos that don’t last forever on the web will enjoy this platform. For those who are shy about selfies and are seeking an empowering way to build confidence, check out our course “How To Build A Strong Relationship With Yourself.”

• TikTok. TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Generally used to upload very short videos of 15 seconds at most, this app has given people of all ages a reason to get off their couches and learn the latest TikTok dance. It’s also a good place to share video memes, humorous clips, and short announcements to followers. Check out TikTok if you’re looking for short-form entertainment and funny videos to brighten your day. Chances are, a number of your friends are already on the app right now.

• Whatsapp. As mentioned briefly in the previous section, Whatsapp allows users to set status updates, send text messages, and make voice and video calls internationally without charge. This function is especially useful when traveling; users can turn off roaming charges on their smartphones and use Whatsapp to communicate across a WiFi network. If you can get your friends and family to download Whatsapp, you can stay in touch no matter where you are with the app’s easy group messaging functions. Sharing video and photos through the messaging service is also simple and easy on the Whatsapp platform. 

• WeChat. WeChat offers the same features as Whatsapp, messages, voice and video calls, but also boasts a number of other capabilities such as acting as an e-wallet, storing virtual membership cards, providing news updates and top stories, and even allowing for games to be played directly in the app. WeChat can be seen as a number of different apps in one platform. 

Related: Implications of Technology for Personal Connection

Work & Networking

There are also social media options for keeping in touch with work colleagues, professional contacts, and networking. These applications address different needs and allow you to maintain important communications during this current period of social distancing.

• LinkedIn. LinkedIn is one of the most popular online networking platforms on the web. Through the app, you can connect with professionals in any industry and share promotional videos, informative blogs, and helpful images with your contacts. LinkedIn also allows you to post your work experience online and search for job postings as well.

• Skype. Typically used for online conferences and meetings, Skype has some features that also allow for social interactions. Other than video and voice calls, you can also message colleagues and send media through the messaging system. 

• Slack. Slack is a versatile messaging application that many modern companies are using to keep team members in close communication. Slack allows your team to use one-on-one messaging and group messaging functions to stay connected and on task with ongoing projects.

• Facebook. While Facebook is a great way of staying in touch with friends and relatives, its marketing capabilities are also helpful to companies hoping to promote their services and products. In response to the current outbreak crisis, Facebook has created a grant program to help small businesses stay afloat. Learn more here.

• Gchat and Google Hangouts. Available through the Google Mail application, Gchat allows users to chat online with friends and colleagues and share pictures and video. Google Hangouts is also available through Gmail and, like Facebook, can be used for voice and video calls as well.

Related: How To Maintain Real Connections With Your Professional Network

Specialized Interests

Other variations of social media platforms may appeal to people who are interested in a specific type of media or topics of interest.

• YouTube. YouTube is the biggest video-sharing platform available, offering videos from millions of different users from all over the world. It’s considered social media because you have the opportunity to interact with other users by liking, sharing, and commenting on uploaded videos. Users should be aware that content posted to the comments section can be viewed by the general public.

• Poshmark. Poshmark is an online selling platform where users sell used and new items of clothing, accessories, and household items. Those with an account can set up a profile and set up a digital “storefront” for other users to shop from. Users can communicate and comment on each other’s items for sale.

• Pinterest. Pinterest is a popular image sharing platform where users can “pin” images they like to their own account. Pinterest is frequently used as a source of inspiration (hence the term “Pinspiration”) for party planners, designers, and crafty DIY enthusiasts. Users can communicate with each other and share images they’ve created or found online.

• NextDoor. The NextDoor app was created as a communication hub for members of the nearby community. Many have found it helpful to be in touch with neighbors to stay connected on local events and news. The NextDoor app has also been useful for providing support to others during the outbreak and locating lost pets in the neighborhood.

• Ring. The Ring app was originally created as a security application to monitor your property and the nearby vicinity. However, Ring also allows nearby neighbors to post security concerns and possible criminal activity in the community. This allows users who live near each other to stay updated on any suspicious goings-on and keep the neighborhood safe.

How to get started on social media

The first step to getting started on social media means setting up a profile and getting acquainted with the application itself. Don’t be afraid to look up some tutorials online to help set up your social media account. Be sure to check your account’s security settings so that you’re only sharing media with the people you want to see it. 

Consider the above list of social media platforms and see which of them fulfills your current social interaction needs. If you have friends or family who are already using social media, ask them for assistance. They’ll likely have lots of advice for which platform is appropriate for you and may turn out to be your first friend on social media.

Related: How To Make Successful Small Talk: Tips and Topics for Small Talk

Reaching out to others on social media

Once your profile is set up and you’ve checked your account settings, you can start reaching out to others on social media. Be careful not to share your personal information with strangers and don’t share media that might make others uncomfortable. Most social media apps will send you a few recommendations for friends when you join an app like Facebook or Instagram to get you started.

Connect with those you’re close to and don’t be offended if they take a while to respond. Most users have accounts on several different platforms but they may not check their notifications every day. Be patient and soon you may be reconnecting with old friends and relatives from all over the world on social media.

Related: How Microlearning Increases Personal Connection

Social Media Takeaways 

Whether you choose to reach out to friends, family, or professional contacts online, there is likely a social media platform that can help you stay connected during this time of self-isolation. We hope this post gave you inspiration to reach out to your loved ones. While it’s not easy to catch up with friends while social distancing, social media technology offers us many creative opportunities to maintain the relationships we value most.

If you’re hoping to make new friends as well, consider taking an online course to meet classmates and helpful instructors. At VP Legacies, you can join a friendly community of people hoping to connect, just like you. Try our free course, “How To Connect in the Midst of a Global Pandemic,” available live daily on both Facebook and Instagram.