As we roll into 2021 and approach nearly one year of social distancing, it’s more important than ever to find ways to stay connected to family and friends. Safety and health remain the top priority during this time. But to help everyone stay close (and keep our sanity in check), here are some tips to provide some inspiration this winter.
We reached out to our JPMorgan Chase colleagues to see how they’re staying busy and engaged with friends and family this season.
What has been your biggest challenge with staying connected to friends and family during the pandemic and how did you combat it? Nick, Private Bank Analyst, 27
Outside of being able to see my friends and family as much as I used to, one of the biggest challenges to me was developing new relationships throughout 2021. Networking is a part of my professional and personal development and it took a while to be able to navigate meeting new people in a social distanced world. One of the ways I looked to overcome this was to join virtual events that the city was sponsoring. The one I particularly enjoyed was a virtual book club. I had never been a part of any book club before, and I enjoyed being able to get that experience from the comfort of my own home.
The holidays were also another big struggle for our family and friends. Although we really wanted to be a part of concerts and events like we used to, we had to think of creative ways to do so. AJR is a family friendly concert that livestreamed a virtual concert and was a fantastic experience. We set up the show on our projector and had other friends in a Zoom call and jammed out to a fully virtual concert! We would do this again.
What are 2-3 creative ideas you have used to stay connected? Maria, Branch Manager, 30
While I have gotten used to and even enjoyed a variety of virtual events this last year (Zoom Birthday parties, cooking lessons and family games nights), 6 months into social distancing, I was looking for new ways to connect with others that did not involve staring into a computer screen on the couch in my sweatpants. This was when a friend recommended a virtual workout class. Yes, it still involved a screen; however, I was able to get up and move around and even learn something new! Plus, it is something I can continue in the dead of winter without venturing out into the harsh Midwest weather.
Another creative way I have found to stay connected to others during this time is by good old-fashioned snail mail. I have started to write and send letters to family and friends that live both near and far. We all know how exciting it is to get something in that mailbox that is not a bill! I also found sending flowers or food delivery to loved ones is not only fun for the recipient but also very rewarding to hear how it makes others feel.
Pictures and videos were our ways to keep connected with our family and friends! Small snapshots of our lives don’t do in person justice, but we were just as happy to receive the same as we saw stories of pets, kids, food, and creative new hobbies that were born from quarantine.
After 10 months, we’ve all begun experiencing screen fatigue. Hopefully these activities spur some new creative ideas for you! As things go back to normal, they may even create new habits to take into your regular life as well.
