How to have meaningful, socially-distant interactions during Covid-19
- The coronavirus has greatly reduced the small moments of connection that help us through our day
- Find new ways to show your appreciation for your friends, family and strangers and foster a sense of community
How can we build connections when we need to stay away from each other?If there’s one thing we’re lacking during the pandemic, it’s connection. Zoom lessons and social distancing mean you’re spending a lot more time on your own, and those small interactions you’re used to having on a day-to-day basis have all but disappeared.
How we interact with others can provide meaning throughout the day, say Professor Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon. Together they founded The Global Meaning Institute, which promotes finding meaning in life, work and society. Even small, brief moments can have a huge impact on the people who are a part of them; you never know what kind of day the other person is having and what that moment of kindness means to them.
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Can you think back to a time when you were having a bad day and someone said or did something small to cheer you up? Maybe you got a bad grade on a test, but then your friend drew you a picture that really cheered you up. Or perhaps you got into a fight with your brother or sister, but then a sweet kid on the MTR said hello and it made your day.
These fleeting moments mean so much to us because they give us a sense of belonging and community; they show that you’re noticed and appreciated, even by someone you might not know. This in turn gives us a sense of meaning – something Pattakos and Dundon argue is essential for living a happy and fulfilled life.
The bingo chart suggests different ways to show your appreciation for your family, friends and other people in your community. Set a goal to do five things a week (you can either aim for a bingo and get five in a row, or just try to do five random things), and give yourself some sort of reward when you reach your goal – like a new pen or an episode of your favourite TV show.
After a while, you might not even need a reward to push yourself to do it; just the feeling of seeing someone happy – and realising how it contributes to your sense of meaning – will be all the motivation you need.