Connection During a Time of Social Distancing

“Social distancing” is a new term for most of us. Let’s dive into the definition, and explore how to execute social distancing in a healthy way.

Social Distancing: The practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection.

The word “social” in the term can be misleading. What if instead we focused on the “physical distancing” aspect that we find in the definition?

Socializing (yes, from afar) during a time like this is crucial. If our desire is to thrive, we absolutely cannot eliminate it! As humans, there’s no denying that we crave connection. Biologically, we are wired for it.

In order to stay mentally healthy, we must maintain social connections during times of stress and anxiety. Our loved ones help us feel safe, loved, heard, and important. Hearing their voices reduces stress and overwhelm.

There’s no denying that this will pull many people in your life out of their comfort zone. The good news is, the more we practice connecting from afar, the easier it will be! Once you start seeing the benefits, the hope is that you will continue to pursue opportunities to virtually connect with the people in your circle.

Chrissy Dougan is a Childbirth Educator, Birth & Postpartum Doula, and La Leche League Leader. She sums up the many hats she wears using two words: Professional Encourager. Chrissy owns and operates Northwest PA Doulas, a small business focused on providing support to pregnant and postpartum families in the Erie region and beyond.