Now, more than ever, it’s important for people to find ways to stay connected with loved ones. Whether it’s talking, listening or a hug, connecting with someone helps us feel soothed, especially when things feel out of control. Here are our four favourite ways to connect and celebrate the best things in life, albeit a little differently.
Host a virtual dinner party
Dinner parties are back in vogue—this time with a twist. Virtual dinner parties are as simple as using Zoom or a chat room to dial in friends and family and enjoy a meal together online. It’s a chance to laugh, share frustrations or worries and connect, and gain those important physical and mental benefits associated with sharing meal times.
Log in for lunch
If you’re working from a home office, it’s easy to skip your lunch break or mindlessly eat at your desk. So, if you find yourself working through lunch, or you’re missing your workmates, try taking a virtual lunch break with them. Creating a virtual lunch hour will help draw a line between work, create space for those important brain breaks and may also be one of the few moments in the day to laugh and just chat.
Gift of baking
It’s no wonder COVID-19 has prompted a boom in baking. It’s far more than a boredom buster. Baking focuses your attention on a calming activity, just like the mindful colouring-in craze. It’s a creative release that can make you happier and it also stimulates the senses, which can increase feel good endorphins.
Take a cooking lesson with an expert
Many celebrated chefs are offering virtual cooking demonstrations to stay connected with passionate foodie followers and offer up the flavours they can’t serve up as they normally would. Tune in and gain useful culinary skills, which you can then serve up as something new to your household.
Tips for celebrating differently
Make it fun. It’s still possible to spend quality time with friends and family and link up whether they live in the next suburb or in another country. To make a virtual dinner party even more fun set a theme, dress up, play a game or try all cooking the same dish.
Share the joy. If you’re worried about eating all your baking creations, try looking for ways to share your cakes—it will make someone’s day and yours tooa. Why not drop a cake off at a friend’s or family member’s house or try a driveway cuppa with a neighbour?
Hone your skills. If you have a family member who makes a dish that’s always the star of the family dinner or an heirloom recipe, ask them for a virtual cooking lesson—the next expert in the family might just be you.
