Stay social during the lockdown - here's how!
Whether you're a social butterfly or an introvert who enjoy your own company, the current lockdown can make anyone feel disconnected from family and friends. While a third of the world is being forced to keep their distance, it can feel like an impossible task to keep your social life going – even just a hint of it. But luckily, we live in a world today where you can literally connect with someone with a quick click of a button. Food has always been a means of connection. If you're missing the days of sharing a meal with your favourites, we've put together a guide to host a dinner party during lockdown – a virtual one!
How to have a dinner party during the lockdown
Positive social connection has plenty of benefits, from making us feel energised to improving our capacity to cope with stress. So, while the bars, restaurants and clubs are closed, how can we still keep our social life going? With a virtual dinner party, of course! Here's how:
Steps to up your virtual dinner party
We live in a modern world with plenty of resources we can use to virtually invite friends and family into our homes. Try one of these:
Step 1: Find an app - it's the new long table!
• Houseparty: Houseparty is a newer application. It is available for free on both mobile and desktop devices. This social networking service enables group video chatting. Users receive a notification when friends or family are online and available to group video chat.
• Zoom: Zoom is a cloud-based application designed to keep remote business teams connected. Today, however, it is used by anyone who wants to chat through a video call. This application allows you to connect with anyone, anywhere in the world, through a unique link. Zoom is free for use up to 40 minutes at a time.
• Skype We all know old faithful, Skype. You've used it for business, now join millions of users by connecting with your loved ones through video call and instant messaging.
Step 2: Agree on a menu
What's cosier than sharing the same meal with your favourite people? The planning of your dinner party can be just as fun as the actual event. So, ask your group to help you to put a menu together; One that you can cook together in your own homes. Find a recipe
Step 3: Set the mood
If you're feeling adventurous, you can have a themed dinner party, else just add a few candles and dim the lights and you're good to go. If you feel that you're stuck in one room during the entire lockdown, try switching rooms. So, instead of using your dining room or lounge, use your kitchen to host your party!
Step 4: What to wear to your virtual dinner party
When last did you dress up? If it's been a while, your virtual dinner party is the ideal opportunity to go all out. Go for a sophisticated dress or a blouse in a colour that flatters your features. It is said that the camera loves rich jewel tones like sapphire blue, emerald green and ruby red. Add some bling with stunning jewellery pieces from Azuni. Go for big earrings or festival earrings for a fun look or if you’re all about that dreamy look, go for moonstone jewellery or semi-precious stones jewellery. There's nothing like dressing up to make you feel comfortable and confident.
Step 5: Log on and enjoy!
Tips to make it a success • Send a reminder an hour before your dinner party to ensure everyone shows up. • Check your internet connection before the time to guarantee no interruptions. • Play some music in the background to really set the mood, but be sure everyone can hear each other. Social distancing may be a challenge for many of us, as we are innately social beings. However, the internet has made it possible to stay social even while we're staying apart. So, while we can’t replace the value of face-to-face interactions, we can be creative in finding ways to stay connected. We think a virtual dinner party is a great start!
