Self-Development: Socialization During a Pandemic

This week we all experienced one of the strangest thanksgivings in our lifetime.  Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask; travel, don’t travel; see family, Zoom family.  All this comes at us so fast; we don’t know what’s right or dangerous. But they all have a long-lasting impact on us and our emotional well-being.

For example, I started thanksgiving on a Zoom call with the entire family from different locations, then went to visit my grandparents, and later had quality time with my mom and sister. It was great to be able to spend time with the people I care about. Although, I was not able to see and be close to everyone the way we used to.

On a broader sense of socialization, many of us realize there are no safe restaurants, bars, or places to hang out. Even though people are going outside, most people do not entirely experience the usual sense of gathering.  For example, I wanted to see a good friend for months, and the only safe place we could find was the park.

The big question now is, how do people meet each other? And how do people satisfy their desire to socialize?

I’ve been studying human development in my Ph.D. program. We’ve learned that human behavior is complex, adaptive, and evolving with the events that shape our lives.

Let’s look at the last three decades, and how technology has changed human behavior.  In the 1990s, we had the emergence of the internet. In the 2000s, we had the advent of social networking, and in the 2010s, we had the simplification of e-commerce. Each of these technological developments has impacted human development and behaviors.

Now, in 2020, the global pandemic has created a massive new phenomenon that we’ve never experienced before.

With this new challenge, we’re trying to socialize and fulfill our biological need for social connection and avoid loneliness. There is a positive stress-relieving component to this that can increase happiness, reduce anxiety and depression, and boost the immune system.

I ask myself how people can be motivated to be excited, productive, and enjoy life given the new environment. It’s super tricky, and I struggle with it sometimes too.

Things you can do to help yourself during this time:

1. Meet new people online. Meeting new people is more complicated now that bars and recreation activities are mostly closed. We can join groups that are doing online meetings, conferences, showrooms (fashion, furniture, jewelry, etc.), and exercise classes. Meetup.com is a great place to connect with people online by joining meet-up groups.
2. Video calls and virtual parties. It’s okay to spend time with people virtually. It’s becoming a more common thing to do, plus it could save a trip from going anywhere. I’ve had some entertaining video calls that include birthday celebrations, gender reveal parties, pumpkin carving, and engagement parties. Using Zoom or any other video call application can help connect with friends, family, and connect with new people.
3. Learn to enjoy time with yourself. It’s so important to enjoy the time you have with yourself. Or even enjoy spending time with smaller groups of people you trust (like one or two people) instead of large gatherings. You can practice self-care. It’s okay to make only a small list of things in a day and not have a busy schedule with back to back events.
4. Self-development in learning a skill. Find something you enjoy doing for self-development and learn a new skill. There is also a lot of pressure out there that this time should be spent creating, planning, or learning something new (like a new language). So if you don’t get to it, then hey, you don’t get to it. Have fun and do something or do nothing without feeling guilty for it.

This pandemic has impacted every one of us. Although vaccines are about to be available, the pandemic’s effect won’t go away for years. It has changed our way of life, participating in school, our workplaces, dating, hobbies, and family life. These changes present a new set of challenges for all of us. Self-development and socialization now have a new meaning. We have to think about it every day until it becomes a regular daily routine. I know I do when I interact with friends, acquaintances, and family.

It’s important to do things in life that make you happy. I know, it’s easier said than done sometimes when life gets in the way. But, trust me, we are made to evolve and grow with changes, even in this pandemic. 

B Strong,

Aysha