I know, I know. I’m usually one to talk about spending less time digitally. But things changed with COVID-19. In this pandemic, it’s time to face it. We need human interaction to be healthy mentally, and technology gives us so many options.

Here are some ideas. I hope you’ll find at least one that fits for you.

ask for help. and give help

Everything seems so big and unpredictable at the moment. One of the biggest strengths of establishing social connections digitally is that you have new avenues to ask for help in ways you might not be able to otherwise. Even though you might not be able to meet up with your best friend at a cafe to complain about everything, venting to each other over a DM works almost as well. If you’re struggling, if you need a friend, if you need a space to let it all out: Reach out to people. Ask for their help. Let them be there for you. And when they need you, be there for them too.

share an online-movie night with friends

How about a group that gathers digitally to watch a bad movie together? It’s more fun than you think! It turns out that watching a movie while poking at it with friends is just as good online as it is in person (plus you are in your PJs and on your own sofa with your furry friends). There are high tech alternatives but the easiest thing is for everyone to pull up a movie on Netflix or Amazon Prime and hit play at the same time, chatting over group text, or Slack.

take your board games digital

Helloooo families. We all do this together in person. Schedule something digital! Bring back this fun.

If you already have a board game that you love, the simplest option is to look for the digital or mobile edition of it. If you want to retain the feeling from a true board game night of everyone playing at once, I suggest having a conference call going on speakerphone. Do this!

have a digital happy hour

Beyond its remote-work functionality, Zoom is a great platform for having a video chat with friends. And, failing Zoom, there’s also FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Skype, Facebook Messenger, and others. Seems tricky, yes. But once you adapt, you’ll find it’s just as fun, and it’s much easier to hear one another, compared with talking over the mediocre cover band playing in the corner of your local. Plus no one has to worry about being the designated driver—you’re already home!

start a club that meets online

Clubs based on enjoying activities on your own time and then coming together to chat about them are already a thing, but let’s expand. You could all watch the same movie or TV show, cook the same recipe from a cookbook (this is so fun!), try the same wine, or talk about your most recent home project. Whatever the topic, have a list of talking points and questions put together that everyone knows about before you start. You’ll thank me later for this tip.

shift your yoga class to home

If you thrive on the camaraderie of a yoga class (or group workout of any kind), suddenly having to figure out a home version may sound daunting, as classes are cancelled and people avoid yoga studios and gyms. Reach out to your favorite instructor and see if they’d be willing to do group video sessions (they’ll probably be super-grateful to keep their clientele amid a flurry of coronavirus-inspired cancellations). Alternatively, if you already feel like you know what you’re doing, you can arrange a group workout at your home. Go for it!

Bottom line? My biggest message here is to get after it, being isolated will grate on you. No one does well alone. So figure out some ways to connect from home.

Thank you, digital technology. I’m grateful for you. You’ll help us stay sane.