The lack of human connection is one of the hardest parts of lockdown. We’re all missing our family and friends, but since we have at least another four weeks of lockdown ahead of us, we need to find ways to reconnect with our loved ones that go beyond phone calls and video chats.
To help you reconnect with your loved ones in fun and different ways, we’ve put together some activities you can do with a wine in hand, which will bring a smile to your face and most importantly, deliver some much needed human interaction, even if it is through a screen. Here are five great ideas to help you feel more connected- because now more than ever we need each other.
Ready Steady Cook-Off
Connect over Zoom and have a cook-off!
Distribute an ingredient list ahead of time so that each team can make a dish using the same set of ingredients. Since you can’t taste each other’s creations, each team must score the other team’s final product on the visual appeal & presentation of each dish. Add up the scores and determine your winner.
You can decide on a prize, like a set of takeaway cocktails perhaps, or just stick to bragging rights. The best part is everyone gets to sit down for a meal and a chat at the end. A bit of fun and a meal, it’s a win-win and the closest thing you’ll get to a dinner out with friends right now.
Trivia Time
There are many ways to play Trivia online. With a little Google search, you can find plenty of apps and websites that can help you.
This is a simple four-step plan for creating some trivia fun with a group of friends.
- Designate a different team host each game. The host is in charge of devising questions, moving from round to round and keeping track of scores. The host can put questions on a slideshow to avoid having to re-read any longer questions.
- Participants should submit answers via text message to the host after the end of each round.
- The host should read the answers to each round once all answers are in.
- Give a total score check for each player or team every other round
Again, you can nominate a prize for the winner if you choose to- another great idea is a gift voucher to a local restaurant that the winner can use for takeaway or after lockdown is over.
Easy, right? You can play as singles, couples or families. A little competitive fun never hurt anyone!
Paint & Sip
Flex those artistic talents, or laugh at your lack thereof, with an online paint and sip session that you can hold yourself via your favourite virtual meeting app (Zoom, Facetime etc.)
Use a random word generator or put everyone’s ideas into a hat & choose a topic to paint or draw within a certain time limit.
Everyone at home has their paints, pencils, paper, canvas…. Whatever you can find at home to create your masterpiece. Set a timer and begin! When the timer goes off you must reveal your artwork to everyone. Viola!
Book Club
Book clubs are not just for grannies.
Get a group of friends together online and take turns to select a book. Meet weekly via Zoom to chat about the book. You can choose to discuss one chapter per week or a whole book per week, it’s totally up to you. We all need something else to talk about other than COVID case numbers and what the future may look like. A good dose of escapism soothes the soul.
A Night at the Movies
Have you heard of Teleparty (aka Netflix Watch Party)?
To break it down, you and a number of friends all log into your streaming service of choice on your laptop or desktop computer, at a set time and watch a specific movie or show together.
If you feel like taking it to the next level, there’s a Netflix Party extension on Chrome, which can sync up a number of Netflix accounts, so you and your friends can watch the same stream.
There’s even a chat function on the side of the Netflix Party screen that allows everyone to react to what you’re watching in real-time. To hear and see everyone’s laughter, tears or expletives over your webcams, you can install Scener, which is another extension for Chrome. Don’t forget the Popcorn!
You’ve got time and you need time out
We are all juggling a lot right now and it can feel overwhelming adding something else to your plate but taking time out is essential. You need to connect with loved ones not only for your own mental health and wellbeing but for theirs too. Spending time together (even virtually) may be exactly what everyone needs to tackle the week ahead.
So Mums, I really hope you all take some time to have a little fun, you deserve it!
