The World In 2021

“My name is Robert Neville. I am a survivor living in New York City. I will be at the South Street Sea Port every day at mid-day when the sun is highest in the sky. If you are out there, if anyone is out there, I can provide food, I can provide shelter, I can provide security. If there is anybody out there, anybody, please, you are not alone...” –I Am Legend

Few would have thought that New York City today would so closely resemble Will Smith’s 2007 sci-fi horror, “I Am Legend”. The fears of solitude that beset Will Smith’s character, Dr. Robert Neville, in post-apocalyptic New York are very palpably felt by citizens all over the world today with the onset of COVID-19.

To curb the spread of COVID-19, governments worldwide have put citizens through a series of lockdowns and social distancing measures; cities and towns once bustling with activity are now sparse. Establishments that remain open require customers to wear masks, keep their distance, and have their temperatures checked prior to entering any premises.

The Costs of Social Distancing

While social distancing has become the new normal, it is not without its costs.  Humans are social creatures; most of us are not accustomed to living within the same four walls with reduced in-person social interactions for extended periods. This can be doubly stressful for the most at-risk groups of people, particularly the elderly and immunocompromised. Research indicates that loneliness and social isolation could have adverse impacts to mental health, such as reduced sleeping hours, poor self-rated health, and deteriorating cognition. In extreme cases, it is associated with suicide and suicide attempts among older adults.

To compound our challenges further, we have also had our mobility and recreation restricted. This not only limits recreational activities that helped us contend with the stresses of daily life in ordinary times (stress that is now compounded with COVID-19), but also deprives us of physical contact with friends and family who we would turn to for support and love. The World Health Organization reports that COVID-19 had disrupted access to critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide, while the demand for mental health continued to increase.

With the pandemic still raging, it is likely this status quo will remain for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, it’s more essential than ever to deliberately and creatively work around the challenges of a contact-free world to strengthen existing connections and build new ones. Here are our tips and strategies that can help you build connections in a contactless world.

We hope you find some of our tips useful, and perhaps, you may even impact the lives of others for the better.

Tips to Build Connection in a Contactless World

Tip 1: Make use of your time to catch up with friends and family

While curfews and lockdowns may confine you to your homes, this could actually give you better opportunities to connect with others than you otherwise could in a normal hectic working day. Working from home eliminates commuting while travel restrictions frees up time from your schedule otherwise spent transiting.

With more time on your hands, you can finally reach out to that relative or friend overseas that you have not spoken to for a while who is also likely confined at home. Video calls make interactions more personable in real-time without having to leave your doorstep. Why not spend some time teaching elder relatives and family members how to use one of the many video call services, be it Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, WhatsApp or Facebook?

Tip 2: Make it fun - Two’s a crowd, three’s a party!

To spice things up further, incorporate online games, group fitness classes and virtual parties to include more participants and activities to liven up the atmosphere. The internet hosts a plethora of options depending on your preferences. A quick Google search will list virtual gym classes at a time and date of your choosing that will get your heart pumping while meeting new people. (Speaking of which, URBN Playground offers its very own fitness program, URBN Burn, if you are interested in getting fit while building community!)

If you wish to do something more relaxing together, you can host Netflix watch parties through the Netflix app itself, or using online apps such as Teleparty. Or, take board game night virtual, with plenty of options to play traditional board games online on sites like Board Game Arena, Yucata, Happy Meeple and more.

For those of you who prefer a more personal touch, you can send a touchable gesture of love by making and sending hand-made gifts like origami, drawings and paintings to your friends and family through the mail.

Tip 3: Educate yourself

COVID-19 has forced many schools and universities to shift their classes to online channels. If you find yourself with time to spare and had always have a desire to pivot into other careers but never had the time to upskill yourself, you can finally explore alternative career paths on your downtime. If you are looking for classes to enroll into, massive open online courses such as Coursera and EdX offer a range of classes by the world’s top educational institutions covering almost every subject imaginable with options to obtain certifications if you wish to spruce up your resume.

DataCamp allows you to upskill yourself in coding and tech skills that are highly in demand in the market today. Online classes also give you the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals keen to pursue the same interests you are, and the opportunity to interact directly with leading minds of their respective subject areas.

Tip 4: Get involved in your community.

The pandemic has caused widespread unemployment, and many disenfranchised individuals and communities have been hit doubly hard. Charities and non-profits need to not only raise financial support to continue operations and provide for the needy, but require more minds and helping hands than ever. You can consider volunteering your time, energy and resources to these causes and make a difference on the lives of others in these difficult times. Research supports that volunteering and aiding others also benefits you through lowered stress and lowered risk of depression while expanding your social network and increasing your social interactions.

While Covid-19 may have robbed us of our physical connection to each other, it’s also a good time for us to take a pulse check on the health of our relationships, and seek out new opportunities to strengthen the connections we treasure, and build new ones we wouldn’t have built otherwise.