Being in quarantine means being unable to meet your friends in person. Not to mention, some people have already gone back to their respective countries, perhaps including yourself. Sometimes we miss hanging out with our friends. But, don’t feel blue! Here are some activities you might want to try with your friends over a long distance...
Gardening Competition
Growing a plant can reduce stress. A plant can also serve as a decoration to your house. Furthermore, some plants are even edible! Try to plant with your friends. Decide on a type of plant and set a deadline together. The lushest plant wins! Here are some great suggestions for plants to grow indoors.
Bonding over Music
“Music is a universal language”. You might or might not have the same music taste as your friends. But as the saying suggests, music is everyone’s language! Have you ever thought of getting to know your friends better through music? In addition to chatting, it is also fun to share each other’s playlists.
Some say that music can tell someone’s personality (it’s still an ongoing debate though :p). Here’s a short quiz to try with your friends to discover your strongest personality trait based on your music taste.
The songs in your friends’ playlists could be of singers and genres you haven’t discovered before. Yet, this should be refreshing. Some of them might even become your new obsessions! And if you guys find a common interest in music, you can plan on seeing a concert together in the future.
Co-author a Story
Write a story together! Why not? It does not have to be something serious. You and your friends can just take turns to write a sentence on Google Drive or even simply on a group chat. Let your imagination go wild! Your sentences might not be coherent to each other. But this incoherency can actually make for funnier stories in the end!
Be Workout Buddies
Being stuck at home might have made some of us become lazy about moving around. Don’t forget, lack of physical activity is not good for your health! In this current situation, it is crucial to stay fit and strong. Thus, now should be the time for you and your friends to become workout buddies, if you are not already. There are countless workout videos and tips you can find online. With your friends, try to pick some workout sets and exercise them together. Working out together on a video conference can be a lot of fun as well, making it feel as if all of you were in the same workout class. If you are interested, here’s the link to my personal favourite workout YouTube channel, POPSUGAR Fitness.
Play Online Games Together
If you are not an avid video gamer, you can try playing a more casual game that can be played by turn with your friend whenever convenient (because time difference can be troublesome sometimes :p). Some recommendations are “4 Pics 1 Word” (guess the word based on the given four pictures), “Words With Friends” (similar to the classic board game “Scrabble”) and “Draw Something” (let your friends guess what you have drawn).
These are examples of games that can be played whenever convenient for the players. However, if you are interested in playing real-time online games with your friends, online Werewolves and online Cards Against Humanity are ones to consider. If you want to know more about these games and tips on what to do in a long-distance friendship, I kindly invite you to check my friend’s Julius’s podcast (coming soon!)
I hope some of the suggestions above can inspire you. Taking time for yourself is good. Nevertheless, keeping in touch with your friends can also do wonders for your mental health. On top of that, getting creative with your friends will make it even more rewarding! But, remember that everyone copes differently to self-isolation. So, let’s stay supportive for each other and keep well everyone!
