It doesn’t need to be restated that the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up everything we once knew about running our everyday lives and the lives of those around us. It has redefined how we work, play, spend, and even how we eat and drink. But perhaps the one foundational concept this pandemic has influenced the most is how we connect with each other.

Connection underlies every single action we take on a daily basis. Our relationships with others permeate everything we do and the reasons we do the things we do. As surges, restrictions and mandates continue to come and go in waves, all of us are still collectively trying to navigate how to maintain healthy relationships in both our personal and professional lives.

With this in mind, many of us are still trying to figure out how to nourish those relationships virtually, whether that’s coming up with fun things to do over FaceTime, planning virtual family reunions or simply working through the common phenomenon of “Zoom fatigue.”

Knowing how to make the most of video calls when they are your only option for connecting with someone is a major key to maintaining more fulfilling relationships with your loved ones and colleagues. Though nothing can ever be a true, complete replacement for in-person connection and interaction, there are plenty of ways to make your video calls more exciting and use them to learn more about the people in your life. Here are a few ways we’ve seen video calls benefit our relationships throughout the course of this pandemic:

They allow you to communicate more clearly

Again, there is no true substitute for the power of talking to someone face-to-face – but video calls are the closest thing we have, and they’re a great substitute in situations where you just need to see someone’s face.

In both professional and personal situations, a major part of our ability to communicate effectively and smoothly comes from being able to read a person’s body language, look them in the eyes and feel out the tone of the things they’re saying. Whether you’re having a lighthearted, funny chat or discussing something serious, it’s always best to be able to look the person in the eyes and read their facial expressions and reactions. Even though a regular phone call still beats a text when it comes to discussing important things, it still doesn’t offer the entire experience of being able to feel every aspect of what a person is saying.

Plus, video calls make things feel more personal and meaningful, which is always a benefit no matter who you’re talking to or what you’re saying.

They offer a safe, comfortable alternative to leaving the house

Even before the pandemic, the truth of the matter is, sometimes you simply don’t feel like leaving the house to meet up with someone! Being in public spaces can be mentally and physically draining, and sometimes it’s nice to know you can still connect with a friend or co-worker without leaving the quiet comfort of your own room.

With more activities opening up in public spaces, many people are still trying to navigate how comfortable they are being in crowds or how much time they want to spend in certain public spaces. Even though a lot of people became burnt out with video calls during lockdown and are eager to get back into their favorite spaces, it’s okay if you would prefer to stay in for the night and stay safe. There is no shame in taking precaution and asking to keep things virtual every once in a while – in fact, more people than you think are probably feeling the same way.

They allow for more regular check-ins

Whether you’re asking a quick question of a co-worker, checking in on a family member or simply calling to say hello to a partner or dear friend, video calls are a convenient way to let someone know you’re thinking of them or need them throughout the day, even when you can’t be together in person. Better yet, there are so many fun things to do over FaceTime and other video calling platforms that a quick call can easily turn into a game night, TV show watch party or co-cooking date.

You don’t need to be chatting with long-distance friends or family members in order to reap the benefits of video calls – even if the person you’re calling is a few houses down, video calling adds so much context and convenience to a situation when you just want a quick conversation. It’s becoming more and more common to interchange video and phone calls when chatting with loved ones, and many workplaces prefer video calls to phone or audio-only meetings.

It goes without saying that regularly checking in on the people around you is essential to maintaining healthy, positive, mutually-enriching connections. Don’t underestimate the power of video calling to help you do just that.

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