We don’t often say this, but attending Ohio University and living in an Athens Ohio apartment frankly kinda sucks right now. The same with your student rental in Columbus. Normally it’s awesome — a great school, lots of parties, the hippest college town in Ohio. But COVID-19 ruins just about everything it touches, and after all the truly bad stuff, college is high on the list.
Yeah, we’re breaking out our little violin and miniature electric ukulele. It’s a small thing to complain about, compared to the human toll. All my friends are (relatively) healthy. I’m not sick — just bored to death. Knock on wood.
It’s true – to stop the spread of COVID-19 we need to social distance — avoid physically hanging out with anyone outside your household. That means maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between others when out in public and wearing a face covering when inside or in close proximity to others — but we don’t need to socially isolate. There’s a big difference.
The truth is you can social distance and still maintain an active social life — whether you’re in Athens staying at your student rental or at your parents house hundreds of miles away. Here are five ways to accomplish this safely and effectively. We’re guessing you’ve already figured out most of these, but there’s learning through repetition. Oh, and all of these suggestions will work just as well whether you’re living in a rental house in Athens or an off-campus apartment near Ohio State in Columbus.
Attend Virtual Social Events
Like we said, social distancing is crucial to preventing the spread of the disease, but the name itself is a misnomer. You don’t need to be socially distant, only physically. Indeed, maintaining social connections is crucial to sustaining your sanity.
Apps such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Facebook video chat and FaceTime make it easy to get together with friends and family while still being physically separated. Sure, it can be awkward at first, but you quickly get used to it. Soon, you’ll forget the screen is even there. Make it a happy hour with cocktails. If you don’t drink, plan a tea or coffee time. Share breakfasts, lunch or dinner together. Play board games, chess, or read together. But do try to not overdo the pride you have in your dog – it can get really old when someone keeps swiveling their laptop to capture Muffy licking his nether region. And don’t get started on cat views.
Reach Out to Someone New Every Day
It’s easy to get socially isolated when you’re stuck in your Athens or Columbus rental house or apartment not physically encountering people every day. Make a point of reaching out to somebody new on a daily basis. Look up people from your past — old friends from high school, your freshman college roommate who transferred out of state. Find ways to reconnect with them. Call friends you haven’t talked to for a while. Harass your ex-girlfriend at 7 a.m. (kidding). Plan Zoom dates. Stay connected.
Exercise
Exercise helps us to feel better, which helps us break through our social isolation. Better yet, exercise outdoors. Plan time to work out or exercise every day. Get out for a run or a walk for an hour a day. Athens is surrounded by areas with trails for hiking and biking. Some are an easy walk from off-campus housing, including The Ridges and Bong Hill. In Columbus, you have your choice of nearly 20 Metro Parks, all within a half-hour drive of your off-campus apartment. This gets you out of the house, keeps the blood flowing, and helps to manage depression. By feeling happier, you’ll be less prone to isolation. This will make reaching out to others easier and more natural. It always helps to get out of your Athens or Columbus rental.
Get into Nature
Similarly, reconnecting with nature is key. Take some time to go to Stroud’s Run State Park and meditate by the lake. Go on a nature hike up on The Ridges or in the trail system in the hills north of the East State Street commercial district. Sit by the Hocking River with a good book. It helps you get out of your Ohio University apartment or house, which helps ward off depression. In Columbus, there’s plenty of municipal parks, plus the aforementioned 19-park Metro Park system. Take a drive down to Clear Creek Metro Park and walk along the sparkling stream.
Maintain Hobbies
Maintaining hobbies is key to happiness and helps keep you social. It also gives you more to talk about when you do reconnect with people. Start an art project. Write poetry. Do some woodwork. Work on music and share remotely with friends. Figure out ways to earn money online; you’d be surprised at how easy it is to make beer money in relatively short time, especially if you have writing, editing or SEO skills.
It’s challenging, but the more you can reach out and connect with friends, the better you’ll feel. We’ll get through this thing physically separated by being spiritually connected. Coronavirus won’t last forever, and experts are predicting a return to some normalcy by next fall. In the meantime, be here now — mindful and together. Your best friends are only a phone call or Zoom session away.