Staying connected with your friends and family is hard, especially when you move to study in another country. And unfortunately, the physical distance often turns into emotional distance, too. I have felt how painful it can be to lose touch with someone who you once felt so close to. Reconnection is possible, though sometimes it just takes an honest conversation to clear the air and ease the tension. Still, honest conversations are not the only way to rebuild closeness. Sometimes, it is the little shared moments that help the most. And beyond words, closeness can also come from shared moments, even virtual ones. It is possible to rebuild that emotional connection online, and I am excited to share some simple ways to do just that!
1. One of the best ways to reconnect is by playing board games! There are countless websites where you can enjoy any board game. Just log in and dive into the most entertaining game, which gives you a taste of what it is like to be a ruthless entrepreneur. Be warned, though, these game sessions can last hours, especially when playing with your closest ones. And if the game brings out your competitive side, try not to lose the connections you are trying to regain.
Personally, I am a massive fan of games. For beginners, I recommend Uno, because it is simple to learn and almost everybody has played it at least once. You will quickly find yourself becoming a wicked revenge-seeking mastermind. And once you get started playing board games, you will discover a whole world of addictive, creative, and hilarious games you can enjoy together, such as Bohnanza (much better than Monopoly), Exploding Kittens, and more. And when you meet up, you should play them in real life and have even more fun!
My small collection… I want more…
What about what app to use for video calls? I like to use Google Meet or Discord. These apps are very stable and suitable for watching movies and playing games.
2. Speaking of films, watching a movie is the easiest and most enjoyable way to spend time together. Whether you are laughing, crying, or analyzing the plot afterward, it is quality time well spent. There are plenty of websites where you can stream movies for free; however, subscribing to a platform gives you even more options. My recommendations for the first movie session are Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Menu (2022), and Palm Springs (2020). These are very engaging films to watch together, perfect for sparking conversation.
3. Another way to start talking is to work as a team in online escape rooms or trivia nights. You can easily discover trivia and online escape games simply by web searching or browsing any app store, but some of the best ones are available on streaming platforms like Netflix. These interactive activities naturally get you talking, thinking together, and even laughing when things go hilariously wrong. And without realising how much you want to repeat this video call and be with your close one. Also, it is a refreshing change from the usual video call or chat.
4. Another great way to feel more connected is by starting a small tradition, for example, sending a photo of your day. It is a simple gesture, but it helps you stay involved in each other’s everyday lives. Some apps even send you notifications to be ready to take a picture right now, or you can upload photos yourself. They work on iPhones and Android devices too!
These tips really helped me stay connected with my friends. We have a tradition of meeting up every Friday with snacks and board games (any more than twice a week and we’d probably not be friends anymore). We usually play Catan which is intense and super competitive, but I highly recommend it. Even when we travel back to our hometowns, we use these tips to make sure we stay in touch.
During this game match, we had a whole rollercoaster of emotions…
Just starting a tradition of having regular meet-ups, whether online or in person, on certain days of week can give you something to look forward to and bring a comforting sense of routine. But things do not always go as planned. For example, when everything goes in very wrong way and these calls give you nothing but negativity. Just be brave and talk everything out. And everything can go back to normal or not. And if not that is totally fine. Sometimes, it is just a matter of time, and when the moment is right, fate has a way of bringing people back together.
Images author’s own.
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