Safe ways to stay connected to family
and friends while social distancing
Bob Dylan once sang, “For the
times they are a-changin’,” and
that has perhaps never been more
true than it is today. The COVID-19 pandemic
has introduced new phrases like
social distancing to the general population,
and has also redefi ned both work
and family life, creating a new normal.
This adjustment is not an easy one,
keeping most folks from daily interaction
with family and friends. The good
news is there are ways you can still
spend time with those you care about,
all while practicing the nuanced art of
social distancing.
Start new traditions while
supporting those in need
While traditional dining out is
not currently possible, it’s the perfect
time to start a new tradition around
mealtime. Noodles & Company now
offers family meals that you can conveniently
order online and pick up
either via quick pick-up or the new
curbside pick-up, which is available at
nearly 350 locations nationwide. Additionally,
you can also enjoy free delivery
Caribbean L 18 ife, April 17-23, 2020
through April 30 when ordering
directly from Noodles.com or by using
the Noodles app, which makes staying
at home even easier.
Plus, for every family meal ordered,
Noodles & Company will donate
one regular entrée to a healthcare
worker in an effort to give back to
those who deserve it most right now.
So, it’s time to get menu-browsing and
pick which tasty option your family
can enjoy for lunch or dinner today.
Cultivating connection is now more
important than ever, and the new family
meals make it easy to connect with
loved ones over a warm and delicious
bowl of noodles, whether they’re miles
away over a computer screen or across
the table. No matter the distance, Noodles
can help your family focus on
what matters most: company.
Schedule virtual activities
While it may seem easy to connect
with family and friends while homebound,
many have found it to be quite
diffi cult.
Instead of trying to fi nd additional
time in the day to connect with those
you love, a great alternative is to leverage
the existing time you once allocated
to other activities before social
distancing took effect. This time can
then be spent with loved ones by enjoying
activities via video chat.
For example, if you used to take
lunchtime walks with coworkers you
can now spend that time enjoying a virtual
workout class together. If you used
to attend happy hours or other group activities
with friends or family, you can
now take part in online games, courses
or virtual book club meetings instead.
Commit with your friends and family
to stick with your favorite activities
and routines and you’ll be reunited together
in person before you know it.
Switch up story time
If you have little ones at home, they
are likely missing the loved ones they
are used to frequently seeing in person.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate
these people into your children’s lives
in a meaningful way is to reinvent the
story time portion of their bedtime routine.
Instead of tackling the story yourself,
have a loved one read to them instead
via video conference. Whether
you fl ip the pages for your guest reader
or they read a book from home across
the screen, it’s a simple activity that’s
sure to bring everyone closer together.
Embrace traditional
communication
In times like these, the communication
you send with a personalized
touch will resonate with loved ones
the most. Writing a letter or sending
a care package creates a one-of-a-kind
nostalgic feeling the recipient is sure
to appreciate. Plus, you don’t have to
live entirely in the present. Using letters
to plan for future events and vacations
can be a great way to reduce
stress during uncertain times and can
be a promising light at the end of the
tunnel.
Social distancing shouldn’t mean
isolation. Employ the tips above and
be proactive in your efforts to connect
with loved ones to strengthen the relationships
that matter most. — BPT
Wellness
/Noodles.com