Posted on April 23, 2020
CREDO Tip: Buying refurbished technology to help the planet
While this Earth Week has been like none other in history, the global community has been so resourceful and resilient in finding ways to celebrate 50 years of Earth Day.
From virtual celebrations to countless online resources, activists and progressives across the planet are proving how committed we all are to slowing the climate crisis and fighting for clean air, water and a green energy economy.
Looking for more ways to help the planet this week and decrease your carbon footprint? Think about buying refurbished technology — previously owned items like tablets, cell phones and laptops that have been restored to like-new conditions, many with warranties. Not only will you save some green, but you’ll help keep the planet green, too. Here are some benefits to consider when you’re looking to buy refurb tech.
Environmentally Friendly
We all know the old refrain, “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” Now you can add a fourth: Refurbished.
By purchasing refurbished technology, you’re reducing your impact on the planet by quite a lot. For starters, you’re cutting the energy and resources that it takes to create that new computer or cell phone. According to a study by the United Nations, manufacturing just one desktop computer requires “48 pounds of chemicals, 1.7 tons of water, and 529 pounds of fossil fuels—about 10 times the weight of the computer itself.” The U.N. also found that while modern computers are more energy efficient, four-fifths of a computer’s lifetime energy consumption is used when the item itself is produced.
By purchasing refurbished, you’re also reducing the amount of toxic e-waste you put back into the environment. In 2016 alone, the United States generated 6.9 million tons of e-waste — 42 pounds per person — and only a tiny fraction is recycled, with most ending up in landfills. Americans throw away a staggering 416,000 cell phones every day. That’s 151.8 million cell phones ending up in the 2,500 landfills scattered across America every year, with the potential of toxic substances seeping into land and water ways. Imagine if a bigger fraction of those cell phones were fixed and refurbished!
Competitive Prices
In addition to being environmentally friendly, another big reason to consider buying refurbished technology is cost.
Fixing, replacing parts and ensuring a gently-used product is more or less “like new” is a lot less expensive than creating a brand new product. Those savings are passed on to the consumer. When some device models cost over $1,000, the refurbished version of that same model can be a great alternative.
Digital Equity
Refurbished and reused technology can also be considered a tool for digital equity to help bridge the digital divide, the gulf between the privileged who can readily access technology and those who can’t.
The act of buying pre-owned and refurbished technology helps break down a “culture of new,” a stigma which pervades consumer culture. Local nonprofits that serve low-income people rely on governments and corporations to donate much of its used tech to help close the digital divide, yet consumer technology (referenced above) ends up in landfills. We can do our part to help change this culture by donating our old technology and purchasing refurbished technology, too.
What To Look For
Now that you’ve decided to buy a refurbished product, what should you look for before you make a purchase?
First, try to determine how the seller defines “refurbished.” According to Consumer Reports, different manufacturers define the term in different ways, and that has an impact on what comes inside the box. Apple sells refurbished products with new batteries, shell, charger and even a brand new box. Samsung is similar, promising original condition products with “a detailed, top-down inspection of every feature and function.” Other manufacturers or products may not come with new batteries or charging cables, so check before you purchase.
Next, try to find products that are “certified pre-owned” to ensure you’re buying a device that meets the manufacturer’s highest standard of refurbishment. Then make sure you’re covered with a warranty or service plan.
Ready to buy?
If you’re ready to help do your part to save the planet — and save some money — by purchasing a refurbished device, you’re in luck! Shop our smartphone selection and save on a new phone while supporting progressive causes, at no extra cost to you!
Posted on April 21, 2020
50 Years On, Earth Day’s Legal Legacy Looms Large
Fifty years ago, it wasn’t unusual for rivers to catch fire, for overflowing landfills to seep toxic gases, or for smog-filled skies to dominate our landscapes. While we still have a long way to go toward a healthy, sustainable planet for all, we’ve also come a long way since the first Earth Day brought 20 million Americans into the streets, effectively jumpstarting the modern environmental movement.
Five decades of groundbreaking legislation and the persistence of determined activists and policymakers has led to a decrease in pollution, the protection of wild spaces and endangered species, and the beginning of the clean energy revolution.
Much of this progress was made possible by the creation or passing of:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1970)
- National Environmental Protection Act (1970)
- Clean Air Act (1970)
- Clean Water Act (1972)
- Endangered Species Act (1973)
- Toxic Substances Control Act (1976)
For Earthjustice—a non-profit public interest environmental law organization—these bedrock laws have become fundamental tools of the trade. Since 1971, Earthjustice has been the legal backbone for the environmental movement, all while representing their clients free of charge. With over 140 lawyers across the country, no one is better positioned to wield the power of the law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy and to combat climate change.
Today, progress is threatened by new challenges. Climate change is our new normal. Our federal government is controlled by those intent on taking us backward, propping up fossil fuels and dismantling foundational environmental laws. This year, as we celebrate 50 years of Earth Day and all the achievements of the past, we must look toward the next 50 years that will be crucial for the future of our planet.
We invite you to join us in honoring Earth Day’s 50th anniversary by learning more about the rules that protect public health and the environment.
Click here to read more about each of these key laws, and how Earthjustice utilizes these laws as tools for change.
Posted on April 15, 2020
How to help local businesses and nonprofits during the coronavirus pandemic
Here in California, where CREDO is headquartered, many of our amazing local businesses — which employ thousands of workers and provide the character that makes our communities so vibrant and special — have been closed for weeks. Other businesses, deemed essential, have seen drops in business and face layoffs and economic uncertainty as well. Local nonprofits, especially those that rely on grassroots funding, have been affected, too.
It’s not just in California — small businesses are struggling in communities across the country, especially as the Trump administration’s small business relief programs are mired in issues, and Wall Street banks are refusing to service many loans. But together, we can do our small part to help our local businesses and nonprofits during this time of need.
Next time you’re about to make a purchase during our collective quarantine, think about how you can direct it to a local business instead of a major retailer. Here are some tips to help the small businesses and organizations in your communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Order Delivery or Takeout
Restaurants and their workers are some of the hardest hit during this crisis, as restaurants close their dine-in operations. By June, some are estimating that 5 to 7 million restaurant workers across the country could lose their jobs. Many restaurants have transitioned some of their business to takeout and delivery to stay up and running and employ (a portion of) their workforce. This could be a good time to order your favorite meal or two from a local eatery.
But is it safe to order delivery or curbside pickup? According to the Food and Drug Administration, “there is no evidence to suggest that food produced in the United States can transmit COVID-19.” Likewise, infectious disease and food safety experts typically agree that food itself is not likely to transmit the virus, but if you feel wary, you may want to order cooked foods. Here’s more from experts interviewed by NPR.
What many suggest you do, however, is practice proper social distancing when your food is delivered or picked up. Many restaurants now offer contactless delivery, or you can leave delivery instructions to ensure your food is left at your door. Immediately wash your hands and avoid touching your face after bringing your food inside and unpacking it. Then, of course, leave your delivery person — who is most likely a self-employed gig worker — a larger-than-normal tip.
Buy Online or Purchase Gift Cards
Many non-essential local businesses have closed their brick-and-mortar storefronts, but most are keeping up their web and social media presences, where they could still be selling their offerings online. If not, give them a call to find out if they are still open and what they have available for delivery. They may be offering specials now, too, so it might be a good time to send business their way, if you are able to.
Another way you can help inject a little more into your local economy is to purchase gift cards from your favorite local business. This way, if a business isn’t currently open or is facing other difficulties, you are providing some relief to your community now, and you can use the gift card later when businesses reopen.
Donate to Local Nonprofits
During this pandemic, many large nonprofits, especially those working on COVID-19 relief work, are seeing encouraging signs of philanthropy. In fact, CREDO is donating $75,000 among three organizations providing critical coronavirus aid where it’s needed, which is in addition to our regular monthly donations to great nonprofit groups, some of whom are working on COVID-19 relief projects
But other local nonprofits may be struggling to make ends meet right now, including providing critical services and ensuring their employees continue to earn a living. Right now, many local shelters and food pantries are desperately in need of donations. If you’re able to give during this time, especially if you’re in a place to donate a portion of your government stimulus payment, your local nonprofits — who may be overlooked during this time — will really appreciate your generosity. Not sure to whom to give in your community? Check out Great Nonprofits and Charity Navigator to search for organizations near you.
Leave Glowing Online Reviews
Talk to a local business owner and they’ll tell you they rely on third-party review sites to keep new customers coming in. For many small businesses, these review sites can make, or unfortunately break a business, especially if one of the major sites elevates a poor review or two. But in today’s hyper-connected, algorithm-based economy, small businesses must contend with this reality, even as many storefronts are currently closed.
If you find yourself with a little extra time, set up an account on Yelp and Google (go to Google maps and search for the business) and leave some five-star reviews for your favorite local businesses. Jump on Instagram and Facebook and leave some glowing comments. We can be pretty sure your local businesses will appreciate it.
Tip Excessively
We mentioned this above, and we can’t stress this enough: Please tip and tip generously, if you can. Many delivery workers are self-employed gig workers who may lack basic protections like health insurance, sick pay or personal protective equipment that is not provided by their employing service. Recently, some Instacart users have shamefully lured delivery gig workers with large tips, only to change the tips to $0.00 after their groceries were delivered.
Many of these workers are putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations by continuing to earn a living. Show them your appreciation with a large tip. And please, don’t change your tip after delivery, unless it’s to give them more.
Posted on April 15, 2020
Pesticide Action Network’s COVID-19 Response: Food system resources & initiatives
Our allies at the Pesticide Action Network — who CREDO members have donated more than $387,000 to over the last 30 years — are doing some incredible work during the coronavirus pandemic. Read on to learn more about their important work. You can also learn more by visiting their website here.
There’s a lot moving out in the world right now. In food and farm systems work, resources are being mobilized to support those most in need during this public health crisis — often by directly impacted communities, from the bottom up.
At the same time, conversations are underway about the deep changes needed to our food system, and how best to press for them right now when it’s so clear to all how fragile and grossly inequitable the current system is.
The long haul
Here at PAN, we’re deep in these urgent conversations, and we’re feeling encouraged and hopeful about where they might lead. We also know we’ll be in this work for the long haul.
Over the coming week we’ll be stepping back a bit to give staff time to spend with their families and communities during this time of crisis. We’ll be back in full force in early April, supporting frontline communities and working toward transformational change.
Meanwhile we’ve collected some of the most compelling food system resources we’ve come across to date, both for accessing immediate support and pushing for the longer term, systemic shifts needed.
Frontline resources
Many of the groups who are on the frontline of harmful impacts from industrial agriculture like pesticides are also on the frontlines of coronavirus harm. Farmworkers, small farmers, food workers and Indigenous communities are all bearing the brunt of this crisis in different ways.
Below are just a few of the many resources and action alerts we’ve seen aiming to support these groups during the pandemic.
Farmworkers: Many farmworker partners are advocating for better on-farm health and safety protections and hazard pay for farmworkers as they continue working in this dangerous time. Our friend at the United Farmworkers issued this open letter to agricultural employers, and Farmworker Association of Florida highlights the vulnerability of farmworkers to the coronavirus.
Food workers: Our partners at the Food Chain Workers Alliance have organized this petition calling on state and federal policymakers to immediately support workers across the food system impacted by the virus.
Farmers: Many farmers lost their local markets when schools and some farmers markets shut down. Across the country, initiatives are moving forward to connect consumers directly with these farmers. Many regions are producing resource sites for local produce like this Rooting Resilience site for Bay Area. Local Harvest provides a website with nationwide CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) listings, and the Center for a Livable Future maps local Food Policy Councils, many of which are connecting local farmers to consumers across the country.
Indigenous communities: Indigenous Rising Media is hosting a series of webinars about the impacts of COVID-19, and the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at University of Arkansas is compiling educational information and updates as well.
Moving toward transformation
How can we, together, promote the resilient, equitable food systems we know are needed? In the immediate term, how best to influence the groundwork being laid by the billions of dollars coming out of Washington DC?
These conversations are happening now, and will be ongoing.
We’ve been inspired by calls to relocalize the food system from many of our close partners, and the ongoing push from sustainable agriculture advocates to ensure allocated funds actually reach farmers that need it most.
We’re also in conversation with a cohort of rural populists which will be advocating for long term investment in rural communities and local food economies.
And we stand firmly in solidarity with those calling for an urgent shift to agricultural and economic systems that support a stable and livable climate; we know farming can and must be a core climate solution.
We look forward to deepening collaboration with all our partners and supporters in this work, as we build the just, healthy and resilient food system needed, together.
Posted on April 14, 2020
How to Request an Absentee Ballot During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The 2020 elections are the most consequential in generations. But with a global pandemic not only straining our healthcare system, paralyzing our economy and upending our daily lives, our fundamental right to vote is equally under threat.
No one should have to choose between their health and safety and their right to vote. While most states and the federal government have yet to adopt universal vote by mail, one of the best ways right now to stay safe this election season and participate in the process is voting by absentee ballot.
We’ve put together a quick guide and handy tool to help you retain your right to vote and request an absentee ballot in the upcoming elections.
Right now, only five states, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah, offer all-mail voting. If you live in one of these states, you’re in luck. But the vast majority of Americans lack mail-in voting options. Multiple bills to enact election security and universal vote-by-mail have stalled in Congress, blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has allowed hundreds of important House-passed bills to collect dust on his desk.
Without an option to vote by mail for everyone, how can you exercise your right to vote while protecting your health? A different vote-by-mail alternative: Absentee ballots.
Each state has its own rules governing absentee voting — some with more stringent requirements, others enjoy no-excuse absentee voting. Luckily, a number of states have begun relaxing the rules for who can request an absentee ballot, raising the count to 34 states and the District of Columbia now allowing no-excuse absentee voting. Some states, like California, are taking proactive measures to send ballots directly to registered voters.
If your state hasn’t held its primary election yet, now is the time to request your absentee ballot. Sixteen states and one territory — Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico — have recently pushed their primaries back or instituted vote by mail. You can find out the rules for your state here.
Requesting your ballot is simple. The non-profit Vote.org provides a number of handy resources to register to vote, verify your registration status and, of course, request an absentee ballot. If you’re ready to request yours, try out their easy-to-use tool below to submit your request.
Editors note: This blog post was updated on May 13, 2020.
Posted on April 8, 2020
4 Free Video Apps to Stay Connected
For those of us who are fortunate to be healthy and home during this pandemic, it can be difficult when we’re away from our loved ones. Especially in this age of social distancing, it’s important now more than ever to stay connected to our friends and family.
As we all do our part to flatten the curve, protect our families and vulnerable communities and slow the spread of the coronavirus, video apps on your mobile device or computer are a great way to remain connected with your loved ones in a virtual face-to-face video chat, whether your friends and family are 3,000 miles away or just down the street.
All you need is a device with a camera and a good internet connection. Here are 4 free video chat apps you can use to help you stay in touch while you’re social distancing.
FaceTime
If you have an iPhone, iPad or Mac, you might be familiar with FaceTime, Apple’s built-in video chatting app. It’s incredibly easy to set up and use — here’s a quick tutorial from Apple — and just like any video app, make sure you have a stable internet connection. We always recommend connecting to your WiFi when you’re home.
FaceTime allows up to 32 people in a group chat, which is great for connecting with a lot of friends and family at once. You’ll need at least an iPhone 6s or a newer iPad with a recent iOS update to enable group chats. Here’s some info from Refinery29 with more details.
But one caveat: FaceTime only supports other Apple users, so if some of your loved ones don’t own Apple products, you still have other options that will work on your iOS device.
Google Duo
Google Duo is the video and audio chat app made by Google — think FaceTime for Android. Google Duo supports face-to-face chats for as many as 12 people, having recently increased the platform’s eight-person limit acknowledging on Twitter that the company “recognize(s) group calling is particularly critical right now.”
The app is extremely easy to use with a clean interface, and it’s available for across all platforms, including iOS, Android and on the web. Download it from Google Play, the App Store or use it straight from your web browser.
Zoom
Before the pandemic, you probably hadn’t heard of Zoom, the remote tele-conferencing platform. Today, Zoom seems to be everywhere — from students who are distance learning and employees working from home to virtual religious services, book clubs, happy hours, and of course, group chats with family and friends. Downloads of the app have surged in the last month, and Zoom now claims 200 million daily users.
A free Zoom account allows up to 100 people in a group meeting, but calls are limited to 40 minutes each. However, since connecting over Zoom isn’t tied to your phone number, setting up an account and coordinating video chats can be a little more difficult or time consuming. Zoom has also come under fire recently for lax security measures on the platform, and as we mentioned in a previous blog post, the recent phenomenon of “Zoom bombing” can make for an uncomfortable or unsafe chatting environment.
Sign up for a free Zoom account here.
Skype
Founded nearly 20 years ago — now owned by Microsoft — Skype is one of the original video chatting platforms and dominated the market for years. In recent months, Skype has also seen a massive flood of downloads as Americans continue to social distance during this crisis.
Skype is free to use when contacting other Skype users and supports up to 32 people in a video chat. The application offers a feature called “Meet Now” that offers “video chat Zoom-like functionality” so you can contact people who don’t have an account or the app. Here’s how to get started with Skype.
Skype is installed by default on Windows 10 computers, and users of other operating systems can download the program for free. You can also find Skype from Google Play and the App Store.
Posted on April 7, 2020
CREDO Donates $75,000 for COVID-19 Relief
As our nation continues to reel from the coronavirus pandemic, all of us here at CREDO know we have a moral obligation to help those affected in any way we can.
It’s vital now more than ever to ensure frontline organizations have the resources to respond by getting food, relief and critical aid to where it’s immediately needed. That’s why, last week, we established a special COVID-19 Response Fund to donate $75,000 — above and beyond our monthly giving to nonprofit groups — to three organizations working to help our most vulnerable communities.
More than 16,000 CREDO members stepped up over the last few days to help us decide how to distribute these funds among Mercy Corps, National Domestic Workers Alliance and World Central Kitchen. Here are the results:
$23,708 to Mercy Corps
$28,732 to the National Domestic Workers Alliance
$22,560 to World Central Kitchen
Mercy Corps
The $23,708 CREDO donation will help Mercy Corps, through its Mercy Corps’ COVID-19 Resilience Fund, provide emergency supplies, food, clean water and urgently needed support to vulnerable families and communities during this crisis and beyond.
National Domestic Workers Alliance
With its $28,732 CREDO donation, NDWA’s “Coronavirus Care Fund” is working to slow the spread of the virus by providing emergency assistance for domestic workers that enables them to stay home and healthy.
World Central Kitchen
A $22,560 CREDO donation will help World Central Kitchen deliver fresh meals, help get restaurants back to work, feed frontline healthcare workers and map out feeding efforts during this crisis.
Thank you to all our members and customers who helped us distribute this critical funding during this crisis. If you’d like to help us distribute even more donations — at no cost to you — to three nonprofits in April doing important work for the climate, peace and civil rights, please visit CREDODonations.com and vote today.
Posted on April 4, 2020
Our March grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups fighting for economic justice, climate justice and women’s rights. In March, nearly 70,000 CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to Americans for Tax Fairness, Friends of the Earth and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our March grant recipients thank you.
Americans for Tax Fairness
$41,014
“Thanks so much for your support! CREDO members help make it possible for us to amplify the voices of our hundreds of thousands of online members and our organizational partners to create an economy that works for all of us.” – Frank Clemente, Executive Director
To learn more, visit americansfortaxfairness.org.
Friends of the Earth
$60,286
“Thank you for your support and partnership! We value your dedication to our work to defend the environment and champion a healthy and just world. CREDO members like you help us fight—and win—many important battles for our planet.” – Erich Pica, President
To learn more, visit www.foe.org.
NARAL Pro-Choice America
$48,700
“We are thankful for the support of CREDO members as we work to protect reproductive freedom. NARAL will continue to fight for the right to access abortion and with your support, we are meeting this critical moment stronger than ever!” – Ilyse G. Hogue, President
To learn more, visit NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in April, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on April 2, 2020
Vote now: Help us distribute $75,000 for coronavirus relief
We’re facing a global pandemic the likes of which our planet hasn’t seen in generations.
Hundreds of thousands here in our country have tested positive, and sadly, thousands have already died. The coronavirus pandemic has upended our health care system, our economy and our way of life, and so many people are suffering the effects. It truly breaks our hearts.
Here at CREDO, we have a moral obligation to do what we can to help the people who are affected and the organizations working to make a difference.
That’s why we’ve created a “CREDO COVID-19 Response Fund” to give $75,000 to three organizations working on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, in addition to the donations we make every month. As always, this gift comes at no cost to our members.
We’d like your help to distribute these funds among Mercy Corps, World Central Kitchen and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Click here to vote for one, two or all three organizations making a difference during this difficult time before voting ends on April 6.
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians, working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
This donation will help fund Mercy Corps’ COVID-19 Resilience Fund to help provide emergency supplies, food, clean water and urgently needed support to vulnerable families and communities during this crisis and beyond. Learn more about Mercy Corps here.
National Domestic Workers Alliance
The National Domestic Workers Alliance is one of the nation’s leading voices for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007, NDWA works for respect, recognition, and inclusion in labor protections for domestic workers, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color.
A donation will help fund NDWA’s “Coronavirus Care Fund” which is working to slow the spread of the virus by providing emergency assistance for domestic workers that enables them to stay home and healthy. Learn more about National Domestic Workers Alliance here.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. Founded in 2010 by celebrity chef José Andrés, the organization prepared food in Haiti following its devastating earthquake. Their motto is, “A hot plate of food when it’s needed most.”
Funding will help WCK deliver fresh meals, help get restaurants back to work, feed frontline healthcare workers and map out feeding efforts during this crisis. Learn more about World Central Kitchen here.
Voting ends on Monday, April 6, so please cast your vote today to help fund one, two or all three of these groups doing critical work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted on April 1, 2020
CREDO Tip: 5 Tips for Coping with Social Distancing, Loneliness and Isolation during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Even if you haven’t heard it enough, we’re going to repeat it again: Stay at home. Practice social distancing. Flatten the curve.
But an unintended consequence of our efforts to slow a pandemic and keep our communities healthy is a real problem: loneliness and social isolation. As state and local governments issue quarantines and stay-at-home orders, many of us are living a new normal without in-person social interaction — and that can take a toll on our mental health.
Making matters worse, researchers have found that people who don’t feel connected to others over the long term are more likely to catch colds, experience depression and live shorter lives. One study even calculated the health risks of social isolation as equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Even before the pandemic, loneliness was already widespread, with a national survey showing that more than 70 percent of young people and millenials and half of seniors felt lonely.
So how can we combat this new — hopefully short-term — reality of social distancing and isolation? Here are some tips to improve our health and stay connected.
Make a plan to connect with friends and family
Before the pandemic, many of us probably took for granted regular social interactions with our loved ones. Connecting could be more casual, and there were fewer concerns about meeting face-to-face. But with social distancing and sheltering orders, it’s become a lot more difficult, if not impossible and even unsafe.
Yet, simply saying you’ll stay in touch and actually connecting with loved ones, whether it’s over the phone, video or some other technology, are very different — and you may forget to find time. That’s why it can be so important to make a plan to connect with your friends and family to ensure you’re staying in touch to stave off loneliness. Just like in elections, where studies have shown that making a plan to vote increases the likelihood that you’ll show up to cast your ballot, be sure to make a regular plan to connect.
A great way to make your plan stick? Send a calendar invite. Here’s how to send a calendar invitation to multiple people on your iOS and Android devices to ensure everyone stays connected.
Plan a virtual happy hour
The coronavirus pandemic has spawned a new phenomenon: the rise of the virtual happy hour. People across the country have taken to FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts and other platforms as a welcome way to share a drink (non-alcoholic drinks are always welcome!) with friends while we social distance.
There are many ways to enjoy your “quarantini.” The writers at Inc. suggest these tips to host your virtual happy hour:
- Pick your video platform (Zoom, Google, Skype, etc)
- Set a specific time for the event
- Encourage your friends to bring a drink of their choosing
- Make a plan for the conversation
- If needed, gently guide the conversation
But watch out for “Zoom bombing”
Another phenomenon — and really unfortunate unintended consequence — of our new social distancing is the “Zoom Bomb.” As millions have shifted to working and learning from home, the popular video conferencing platform Zoom has become the go-to software for remote business, school and other activities.
The increased use of the platform has become a ripe target for hackers, who have exploited vulnerabilities in the software and taken over group video chats with hateful or obscene content. The FBI recently issued a warning that malicious actors could steal personal information over Zoom.
To prevent Zoom bombing, check out this article from PC Mag and some additional safety tips from the Anti-Defamation League.
Start or join a book club
Book clubs are cropping up everywhere during the coronavirus pandemic. Although many libraries have already closed, digital books are plentiful, so if you’re an avid reader (or not-so-avid, but want to become one), starting or joining a book club with your friends and family can be a great way to stay connected.
Not sure where to begin? Bustle has you covered with 10 tips on starting a digital book club.
Just want to join an existing book club? You’re in luck. Lots of virtual book clubs — each with unique themes and book choices — are welcoming new members across the globe. Here are ten suggested book clubs from Time. Or, you can join the “Quarantine Book Club” where you can chat directly with authors over Zoom.
Look out for those most at risk during this time
Even though we personally may feel isolated or lonely right now, there are others who may need our help, too. They are people in our community who could be suffering from mental health issues or chronic illnesses, our elderly neighbors who need basic necessities like groceries or medication or someone who is low-income or facing financial difficulties.
If you can, check on them and offer your assistance. They are feeling isolated and anxious too. They may not have internet access or family members who can assist. Here are some additional tips to help communities experiencing loneliness from AARP.
