We’re sure you’ve all heard the term ‘unprecedented’ or ‘uncertain’ times over the past few months but it is important to acknowledge that things are quite a bit different. In this blog, we take a look at some ways you can establish a sense of community while we are being told to stay apart as much as possible.
Social media
Many of us have been finding solace on social media, whether that’s through participating in online challenges or sharing the new hobbies we’ve been picking up. With less time to do the things we usually would, social media platforms provide a way to connect with other people and know we are not alone. It also offers a place to learn and grow!
Virtual conversations
The popularity of the weekly pub quiz would not be diminished by lockdown, and many groups of friends and families have taken to video calling apps in recent weeks to get their fix of socialisation and fun. Although we have not been able to physically go to the pub or socialise in large groups, we’ve still been able to do this online!
Creating new routines
In some ways, community has become even more important during this lockdown period than it was before. We’ve heard several people talking about how they are actually staying in touch more regularly than they were before, establishing weekly calls or check ins to see how everyone is doing.
Looking to the future
Here at The Utilize Project, we’ve been busy looking to the future and about how we can bring life and community back to locations that have become very quiet over recent months. Things will not also be as they are now, and so to really feel that sense of community, it’s important to look at how things might work in the future. We hope that we can help new and small businesses get back on their feet, as well as providing places for people to learn skills and come together again once this is all over.
Adapting to the ‘new normal’
We can’t imagine a world without all of our favourite community venues and we don’t want to! While it’s essential that we are careful when coming together in large groups, it’s also essential that we don’t lose our sense of community and connection as this can have a really negative impact on our mental health and wellbeing. The introduction of new social distancing measures and more thorough cleanliness procedures might take some getting used to, but these will allow us to meet in community spaces once more!
This blog was contributed by one of our partners, The Click Hub, a digital marketing agency in London.