Over here in the UK, we find ourselves in a national lockdown again, with days consisting of online classes, Netflix, as well as Zoom quizzes.
Although keeping in touch with those we care about is a lot easier in the digital age we live in, being physically separated from the ones we care about is by no means easy. as well as with schools closed, many students are struggling to maintain healthy relationships with their friends as well as peers.
For adolescents especially, relationships are such an important part of establishing a personal identity as well as social skills. It’s necessary Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Estados Unidos students find ways to stay in contact. So, for the students who are struggling with isolation, we’ve explained three ways you can maintain those friendships.
But first, let’s take a better look at why these relationships are so important…
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Why are social relationships important?
Belongingness theory states that human beings have an innate wish to belong. This wish is only intensified during adolescence as students try as well as navigate their personal as well as social identities. Social relationships play a huge part in this process as they can Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Australia help:
Develop a sense of belonging as well as self-esteem
Provide an emotional support system
Allow people to try new things as well as establish new hobbies
Develop social skills such as empathy, active listening, as well as dispute resolution.
One study looked at the friendship support systems of 111,000 adolescents as they wanted to see whether having a stronger friendship network resulted in much better mental health. The researchers found that people who had more friends reported fewer symptoms of depression, had more positive perceptions of their relationships as well as felt an increased sense of belonging. Another study looked at 108 Australian high school students as well as found that friendships mitigated the negative impact of stressful events on mental well-being.
What is the impact of Covid-19 on social relationships?
There is no question that efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, while necessary, have had an impact on student ’ well-being as well as education, as well as their social relationships with others. A social study conducted by university college London researchers found that one-fifth of Britons felt that their friendships had been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
In October 2020, the Ofsted report published noted that prolonged isolation due to school closures meant that student had diminished communication skills as well as a problem with maintaining their friendship groups.
Although students are able to interact with each other online, that many report feeling a lack of support as well as emotional connection with their friends without the capability to meet face-to-face. This has consequently led to many teenagers reporting increased mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, as well as loneliness.
3 tips to maintain social relationships during school closures
Write letters
Writing a letter is a thoughtful way of showing your friends that you care, as it takes time, consideration as well as effort. Moreover, for those who are particularly struggling with lockdown, writing down their thoughts helps them label their emotions, process what they’re feeling, as well as cope with them more effectively.
Writing letters to friends can likewise benefit students’ writing skills. With results from Ofsted inspections showing that Covid-19 has negatively impacted students’ writing proficiency as well as stamina, writing a letter to friends is a great way of making sure students are still utilising their written communication skills.
Have a weekly catch up
Take the time to schedule a virtual get together with friends at least once a week. Not only is it an efficient way of making sure you feel connected on a regular basis however it likewise allows sufficient time to pass so it doesn’t feel like a chore.
However, like with all things, a routine can get boring after a while, so don’t be afraid to modification things up. For example, have a watch party one week watching your favourite shows or movies together, a games night the next, as well as a homework catch up session the week after. The possibilities are endless as well as depend completely on what your friends as well as you like to do together.
Start planning for the future
While national lockdowns are not over yet, you might still start planning what you as well as your friends are going to do once they are over as well as you can safely meet again. For example, if you or a friend has spent a birthday whilst in lockdown, discuss what you’re going to do to celebrate. looking to the future is a great motivational tool as it can give you something to look forward to.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Maintaining relationships whilst in lockdown is no simple task. Not going to school can make students feel isolated, demotivated, as well as put the relationships they Camiseta Paris Saint-Germain have with people to the test. even when they try their best to stay in touch, it may feel like the friendship group is drifting apart. hopefully these tips can help maintain as well as establish social groups as well as interactions both during as well as beyond this pandemic.