Level B2-C1

This week’s blog is about Valentine’s Day, but I won’t be writing about chocolate, flowers, candles, cards or anything related to romantic love.  Over the last year, as the Covid-19 pandemic has shut much of the world indoors, many of us have come to realise the importance of the relationships in our life. Whether that’s with family, friends or housemates; it’s becoming obvious that human connections are what make life worth living. In this blog, I’m going to write about why staying in touch with people is so important, some ideas for maintaining social relationships while in lockdown, and what the future holds.

Why People Need People

Having a support network of friends and family is key to maintaining good mental health. This is especially true when holidays like Valentine’s Day come around, because Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and couples. One of the biggest impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns is isolation which causes depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety can then cause negative behaviours in people like alcohol and drug abuse, which make depression and anxiety worse. So this Valentine’s Day what can you do to avoid these traps?

Better Together: Beating the Lockdown Blues

If you’ll be spending Valentine’s Day alone, don’t fear. There are lots of ways that you can keep in touch with people, to share experiences and feel more like part of a community. You can have a game night via Zoom. Zoom is free to use for short meetings or meetings with two people. It’s also available for a small fee for longer meetings. You can schedule a time to get together with friends and play your favourite games, like Bingo. There are online Bingo Makers that you can use to create your own Bingo cards or use ones that are already made. Get your friends from around the world together and create a party atmosphere.

Maybe you and your friends want something more active and mentally stimulating. There are loads of great options for classes and courses online. You don’t have to do this alone, as many websites are offering deals when you join a course together. For example, we’ll be offering a Valentine’s Day deal for our online English classes. If you sign up now for a 12-hour mini course, your friend (or flatmate, or barber, or…) can get a free mini course. How you split the money is up to you two.

Hope for the Future

The UK has already, as of this writing, vaccinated more than 13 million people. By the end of February the NHS will have vaccinated most people over 50 (the groups with the highest risk of Covid-19). While hope can be a dangerous thing, it’s good to always have a little bit to keep your spirits up. Now would be a good time to make small plans for the future with the people you love. Whether that’s a summertime picnic or even just a meal in a restaurant. Making plans with friends is the best medicine to get over the lockdown and Valentine’s Day blues, and to know that you’re not alone.