Maintaining Social Connections

Maintaining Social Connections while keeping Social Distancing during COVID19

By Ms Anju Mathur

As the COVID-19 situation continues globally, it has never been more important for all Australians to practice physical and social distancing as advised by federal and state government and health professionals. And please stay at home, if not feeling well. Now is the time when caution needs to be exercised to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to protect ourselves as well as those around us.

Let’s talk first about Social Distancing.

So, what is social distancing and how can we stay socially connected during this time so that we are feeling socially isolated, while maintain social distancing.

Maintaining Social Distancing

Social distancing is taking steps to avoid spreading coronavirus by having less contact between people. This means keeping a minimum distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and other people as recommended by the Australian Department of Health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended people to stand a minimum of one metre apart in public. According to WHO, standing any closer to another person means that when a person coughs it means “you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease’’.

According to NSW Health, social distancing is an effective measure in preventing the transmission of spreadable viruses and the principle is that the fewer people with whom we come into contact, the lower our chances of both contracting and passing on coronavirus.

And Remember if you do leave your house, stay at least 1.5m away from other people and touch as few surfaces as possible and when you do touch a surface, then please wash your hands with soap and water.

Maintaining social distancing is very important and maintaining social connections is critical to our sense of wellness. According to Psychiatrist Dr. Carolyn Boulos‘’ while staying safe and following public health guidelines, it’s important finding ground where you can engage in meaningful social connections’’.

5 Tips on how to stay socially connected:

4 Virtually engage with your friend and family. Video chat with chat family and friends who you haven’t connected with in a while. Take advantage of the extra time you may have and connect with those you don’t get to talk to everyday.

4 Host a virtual book club and socially connect with your friends/neighbours;

4 Connect with your older neighbours on the phone or just drop off a note in their mailbox to say Hello to them and introducing yourself to them.

4 Go for a walk/bike ride with your family to stay active, great fresh air and to counteract stress and feeling socially not being connected.Fresh air is not only good for the body and mind, it is also good for our sense of wellness. Being physically releases endorphins in the body, which can soothe underlying feelings of stress.

4 Let your creative juices flow, cultivate hobbies that you have always wanted to do. Do some painting, make your own cards for your family, friends, neighbours. If you enjoy cooking, share your favourite recipe in those cards with your family/friends/neighbours. Reduce your stress levels

Remember to remain COVID19 safe, mask up when you are always socially out in the community and keep yourself and other safe and be creative and innovative in socially connecting with family and friends.

About The Author: Writes articles on Health Literacy Founder and President of Dementia Support Group for IndianAustralians Awarded 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award for Hornsby & NorthWestern Sydney as a Dementia Consultant 2019 Finalist for Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards for Best Audio Report