What Are The Best Ways To Stay Social Online During Lockdown?

As many of us are now in lockdown and practicing social distancing, we are spending a lot more time at home and away from family, friends, and colleagues. Whether you are a student who is now studying from home or a full-time worker, there are many ways that you can still keep in touch with all of your loved ones through online methods. As many people are left feeling cut off from their daily routine and social interactions, the internet can be a very useful tool to help you stay in touch and in contact with those you can’t go and visit right now.

If you are bored of baking or doing daily workouts, why not socialize remotely and see what your friends and family are up to in their isolation? Whether you are working from home or just need to pass the time, here are some useful tips that can help you stay social during lockdown.

1. Start Using Video Calls

Social distancing does not mean that you essentially cut yourself off entirely from the world. During lockdown, instead of sending messages or calling others on the phone, make the most out of video calls instead. Video calls are better for everyone for digital face-to-face contact, especially if you haven’t seen someone in a while. Whether you are using them for large meetings or large friendship groups, Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, are just some of the best video call apps that you can use to stay in contact with others during lockdown.

2. Host an Online Game Night

There are many ways that you can still enjoy your favourite games together during lockdown, whether it is through online Xbox live sessions, virtual quizzes, or through games on apps such as House Party. Some of the most popular 18+ multiplayer games you can play with friends online are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto V, and Dead By Daylight. If you want to play some card games by yourself instead, then there are also plenty of online casino games to place a bet on such as online roulette, online blackjack, or online video poker.

3. Stay in Contact With Your Workout Buddy

While staying in isolation, you might also want to stick to your regular exercise routine. If you used to have a running or gym buddy, then you can still sort of work out together in your separate homes in lockdown. You can both video call each other to still synchronise your workouts, or you can just keep up to date and encourage each other through fitness app progress. Couch to 5k, Nike Training Club, and Sworkit, are just some of the best fitness apps for home workouts that can help you stay fit and active right now.

4. Keep in Touch With Your Coworkers

If you usually work in an office but you are now working from home, it is still important to keep up to date and in touch with your colleagues. Whether you miss the break room chat or you need to have a team meeting, there are many online tools that can help you communicate with each other. Gmail, Slack, Zoom, and WhatsApp, are just some ways that you can still chat with your colleagues that you haven’t seen in a while. The New York Times even have a useful guide on the do’s and don’ts of online video meetings that can help you have smoother conference calls for work. Testing your microphone and webcam before a call and muting your microphone when you are not talking are just some useful tips for having a successful video call.

5. Enjoy a Netflix Session With Your Friends

Have you just discovered a fantastic TV show that you are sure your friends will like on Netflix? Then this is the perfect time to use Google Chrome’s Netflix Party extension. The extension allows you to send a personal invite link to your friends so that you can watch something together at the same time and it also has a private chat room feature too. You will enjoy a great night of Netflix and Chill with friends! Enjoy your favourite shows and films together and tick off things on your watch list.

We hope you enjoyed this post in collaboration with Gaming Club.