If you are an extrovert like me, you are finding this time to be very difficult.
I tweeted about this kind of as a joke this week but I asked myself what if being in quarantine turns me into an introvert? No shame to introverts by any means but I’m seriously thinking about this. I’m a big extrovert and always have been. Sure I love my “me” time every now and then but I thrive off peoples energy and can literally talk to a wall. Being in isolation has been really tough for me and I’m sure it has been for others as well. With that being said, I wanted to share with you all the things I am doing during quarantine to keep me social.
FaceTime with family and friends. I’ve been doing this a lot especially on the weekends with my friends. During the week, I’ve been challenging my parents when they text me or call me to do it over FaceTime so we can see one another. Being away from my parents is extremely hard especially knowing that all my friends have left the city and are at home. I feel alone. As simple as that. BUT FaceTiming is making me feel like I am not alone and giving me the social interaction I desperately needed.
View this time as a time to focus on yourself. There is literally nothing you need to be doing outside your apartment right now. Everyone is at home and is staying home (great job friends). The word FOMO is basically irrelevant during this time. This is the time to catch up on things that you’ve been wanting to do but just don’t have the time to do it. For me it is cleaning out my closets, cleaning my apartment, actually putting my laundry away, focusing more on my relationships (virtually), and just simply relaxing. It is so common to lose touch of yourself so why not use this time for a reflection?
Plan ahead. Did you have to cancel trips in the upcoming weeks because of what is going on? Same. Well I am using this as a way to plan ahead with friends and find things to look forward to. The economy is a scary right now so I am trying to be aware of my spending and what I am planning for after all of this is over. But, think of what you want to do after this is over. Is it to go out to eat more often with friends? Go to a new city? You name it. Since we can’t do it right now it seems even more special.
Use video conferencing and make phone calls at work. I feel like everyone is using video conferencing to stay social with coworkers as this is making things feel as normal as possible. It is funny because at the same time no one cares what they look like. ZERO shame and I love it. If you are writing a long email to someone why don’t you just pick up the phone and have a 5 second conversation about it? It is much easier to communicate that way.
What are you trying to do to stay social? Are you a extrovert or introvert?
Thanks for reading Elle’s Edit. If you have any topics that you would like for me to discuss, feel free to email me at elizabeth.lane.dooley@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you! xo
