Yet, staying connected is more important than ever. According to experts, it's an antidote to stress. Talking about everyday worries can reduce their impact, both for you and for the people you connect with.
New technology gives us all kinds of ways to stay connected when we can't be with the people we love. Follow these tips to get started.
1: Stay connected through digital groups
For example, it's easy to set up a private Facebook page to keep your extended family connected. Think of it as an ongoing family newsletter. Instead of waiting to tell your cousins how things are going, you can tell them directly. If your neighborhood doesn't have an online group, create one. It's a new way to connect on neighborhood safety, track down a lost pet, or even catch a package thief.
Not sure what to share? Start with a video. Alarm.com-powered security cameras and doorbell cameras can capture everything from a baby's first steps to a suspicious visitor at your door. You can post any clip directly to your new group using the Alarm.com app.
Live safe. Live well.
Experience total protection with customized, professionally installed security and a home that works intuitively to keep you safe.
2: Meet up with friends and family virtually
Instead of postponing meetups and gatherings, take them online.
A group video chat on FaceTime can keep friendships fresh even though you're in different places. A new Google extension called Netflix Party lets friends and family stream and video-chat through a movie together, with the ability to pause and play for everyone at once.
To make it easy for older adults to reach you, gift them an Alarm.com Wellcam for their home. It's a video camera with two-way voice and a call-out button for connecting directly with no dialing required. Here's how one family uses it.
3: Schedule time for the people you love
When you work from home, a routine of doing your work and then going offline makes it easy to postpone the effort of staying connected. If this sounds like you, schedule time to connect with someone every day as if it were a work meeting.
If your kids are home, schedule breaks and backyard PE lessons with them. Even a ten-minute game of catch can break up a mundane day and help your kids feel connected and reassured. For evenings, schedule movie nights or game nights that you can all look forward to.
Missing your workmates? Schedule a morning coffee break to boost camaraderie, decompress, and talk about non-work-related things.
4: Concerned about safety? Look to security
It's important to stay connected on safety and wellbeing, especially with older adults or family members who might not speak up about a problem.
For older adults, consider Wellness by Alarm.com. Wellness connects their home to yours via smart home security technology, with smartphone alerts to let you know about important activity.
You can get an alert if a parent doesn't open their medication box in the morning, or if a contact sensor picks up unexpected activity at night. Wellness can even alert you to subtle activity changes that could indicate an emerging quality-of-life issue, enabling you to schedule a doctors' visit before an emergency occurs.
Interested in Alarm.com technology? Connect with an expert.
It's easier to stay connected, safe and well with smarter home security. To get Alarm.com for your home, connect with a security expert from our service provider network today.
We work with many of the biggest home security brands and thousands of local security companies. They're an essential service and they're ready to help you.
Click here to find out more and connect with a security expert in your area.
Ready to go?
Alarm.com technology is sold, installed and serviced by licensed service providers near you.
