Many individuals, maybe even including you, faced feelings of isolation from family and friends throughout the pandemic. As a society, we understand that social interactions are essential for our mental health and well-being, but will these isolated feelings disappear with the world reopening?
You may find yourself wondering this as your friends continue to display feelings of isolation. Don’t fear, as you are not the only one going through these challenging times. Unfortunately, many individuals have gotten good at ignoring social connections and not reaching out to others, but hopefully, this norm will go away as the world continues to reopen. In the meantime, here are some tips and tricks you can use to maintain social connections with your friends.
- reach out first
-
This approach may seem obvious, but we want the other person to message us first most of the time. Nobody wants to feel like they’re bothering someone, especially during the school year. As much as you may want to wait for the other person to message you first, that other person may be wishing for the same thing. Give it an attempt – the worst thing that can happen is they don’t reply. Don’t feel discouraged as there are other ways to communicate that you feel isolated from your friends.
- call them
-
A spontaneous phone call might do the trick. Now, don’t worry if your friend doesn’t answer. They could be busy, so don’t go thinking that they’re just ignoring you. If your friend does answer the call, act casual. Express that you are checking in on them and wonder about getting together some time. Remember, it’s much harder to say no through a phone call than a text message.
- let your friends know that you are thinking about them
-
This tip can be helpful in many ways. First, start with a reminder that they mean something to you. It doesn’t have to be long or in-depth, just something that gets the point across. Next, remind the person that you’re thinking about them and are always there for them. Finally, wrap up your message by saying that you miss them or want to see them soon. This will get your friend thinking about you, all your memories and your fun times together. Not only is this trick helpful in getting your friend to message you back, but it also is a mood booster for them. It is nice to know that someone is thinking about you and cares about you.
- be honest
-
I know this may sound scary, as you don’t want to hurt your friend’s feelings or create any tension, but this is probably the best solution to your problem. Regardless of if you do this over the phone, through a text message or even in person, express how you feel. Sometimes talking things out is the best way to get to a solution and address any misunderstanding that could’ve gotten in the way of things.
Whatever happens, remember that this problem isn’t your fault. Most of the world is trying to learn how to be social again. It may just take time for your friends to get back to a level of social interaction that they’re comfortable with.