Social distancing — which involves voluntarily limiting physical contact with other people and generally staying home as much as possible — has been vital to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

But while social distancing is an effective way to prevent the spread of germs, it can also be incredibly difficult to handle emotionally. It’s a lonely time for many without the ability to hug, kiss, or even stand close to our loved ones.

If you’re taking similar measures to avoid non-essential public activity, it might seem like you’ll lose touch with friends and loved ones pretty quickly. After all, while hunkering down at home is important, it can also feel difficult and isolating. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some simple ways to feel close to anyone you might not see in person for a while.

Try “distant socializing.”

Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki recommends reframing the concept of “social distancing” as a whole. “‘Social distancing’ was the wrong term to begin with. We should think of this time as ‘physical distancing’ to emphasize that we can remain socially connected even while being apart,” Zaki says in a recent interview. “In fact, I encourage all of us to practice 'distant socializing.’ Ironically, the same technologies we often blame for tearing apart our social fabric might be our best chance, now, of keeping it together.”

Zaki recommends using platforms like FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts for casual, digital hangouts. “When we meet in person, we don’t expect every minute to be productive or scintillating,” he says. “We kibitz, dawdle and goof off, and those ‘in-between moments’ are vital to a sense of connection. Find ways to replicate them online.”

Challenge each other to bake-offs.

Baking is therapeutic, and what you make can bring joy to other people. Challenge a friend who also wants to bake to make a type of dessert (cookies, cake, pie, whatever strikes your fancy) and then send each other photos of the outcome. If you both generally have the same recipes, then do a swap once you’re done! Bonus: If you both live with other people who are willing to participate as taste testers, have them give grades and see who gets the highest score!

Make some pen pals.

Now seems like a great time to catch up on correspondence. Bust out some stationery and write to someone! This is especially nice to do with someone you’ve lost touch with -- instead of trying to cram life updates into texts, write what’s been going on with you. You’ll be amazed at how much you have to share with each other. If you’d rather not put an extra burden on postal service workers, consider sending a long, thoughtful email instead.

Binge the same TV show.

Pick a show you’ve never seen, watch it at the same time, and then debrief on a regular basis. You can “watch” together by putting on the same episode simultaneously, or you can say, “Let’s plan to discuss the first five episodes of ‘Mad Men’ by Friday.” Take notes, eat snacks, and debate your favorite ad slogans.

Place phone calls.

It’s easy to forget how great a phone call can feel. We love the warm-fuzzies we feel after 30 minutes of a good old-fashioned call, even if the other person is far away. It’s the perfect way to check in periodically on everyone you know to see how they’re doing -- and hopefully share a laugh over something trivial amidst all of the chaos.

Check in with your neighbors.

Even if it feels like folks in your neighborhood are healthy or at low risk for developing a severe case of coronavirus, it’s a good idea to send a text message (or even a postcard!) to let your neighbors know they’re not alone. Make it a point to ask your neighbors what kind of assistance they need; you can offer to shop for groceries for people who can’t, or simply lend an ear over Google Hangouts chats. If you haven’t joined NextDoor yet, now is a great time to get in touch with your neighbors through the online platform. It’s also worth checking to see if a Facebook group has been created for your neighborhood or town -- if not, consider starting one!

Create a book club.

You might not be able to sit down and visit face-to-face, but your social circle can still read together. Pick out a new book and set a date to discuss the details. This way, you’ll have interesting reading material and regular meetings to look forward to. For an organized discussion that involves people taking turns speaking, Zoom is the way to go. It’s easy to set up the meeting, plus the tile function lets everyone see each other all at the same time as though you’re in the same room. Fun tip if you’re hosting one: Suggest participants get creative by changing the Zoom background to fit the theme of the book!

Ask for help when you need it. And give help when you’re asked.

One of the biggest strengths of establishing social connections digitally is that you have new avenues of asking for help from your friends and loved ones 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 catch up, venting to each other over a FaceTime call works almost as well. If you’re struggling, if you need a friend, or if you need a space to let it all out: Reach out to people. Ask for their help. Let them support you. And when they need you, be there for them too.

Distant Socializing: How to Remain Connected During COVID-19