A year without pants

Working from home, all the time, and one lockdown after another... No meeting friends, no bars, and no events—it's a tragedy in terms of social contact. You hardly see your colleagues anymore, and when you do, it's only via Teams or other video conferencing services. People you used to see every day (whether that was good or not :) ) are now only seen through a camera when necessary... and even then, only if they turn on their camera.

Many people don't dare to do so, even though it's not a big deal. Humans are wired to look other people in the face when communicating; it's part of communication. So make yourselves look nice, as if you were going to work (that way you'll feel good), and turn on the damn camera! A smile says more than a thousand words... or how does that saying go again?

This immediately raises the question: coronavirus and pants... what's the connection?

This “situation” has been going on for an unusually long time now and shows no signs of ending... frustrating, but what can you do if you want to stick to the restrictions and still maintain your social life?

Various new ideas and solutions are needed here, and some of them already exist, we just don't know about them yet.

Here are a few examples that are quick and easy to implement and can be enjoyed during your lunch break, as team-building activities, or simply after work with friends and family. Because when you think about it, that's what it's all about: having fun together again!

Very important: cameras are mandatory for everyone! With or without pants ;)

https://skribbl.io/
Someone draws a given term and the others have to guess what it is. It's a familiar concept, but drawing with a computer mouse is something completely different. The game is in German, points are collected, and winners are chosen. Definitely worth trying out, it has already had people falling off their chairs with laughter for more than one evening.

https://stadtlandflussonline.net/
The classic game that needs no explanation. You don't even need pen and paper. The perfect family game where even the kids can play with grandma and grandpa.

https://garticphone.com/de
A must for every Friday night online party with friends. Chinese whispers with drawing and guessing. At the end, everything is summarized in a nice little video that can be saved and shared. Hilarious situations arise and you realize why it's called “Chinese whispers”!

https://codenames.game/
Something challenging for the puzzle enthusiasts among you. The more players, the more fun!

There are many possibilities, but people prefer to sit on the couch and watch Netflix!

Yes, that's how it is. Complaining about politics and not being allowed to go out. Or because the cinema is closed or because the pub around the corner is closed (where you would otherwise have sat on your butt).

Do you still realize?

• People are dying!
• Companies are going bankrupt and entire livelihoods are threatened.
• Some elderly people don't see their families for months.
• Children can't go to school, and the school system was neither prepared for this nor is it a flexible system. I guess by 2030, everyone will finally have a team!

We live in such difficult times that we should be able to solve small problems ourselves.

And if children aren't allowed to visit their friends or grandma, then we have to make sure that works!

• You don't have to be in the same room to see each other!
• You don't have to be in the same room to talk to each other!

And to have fun together and live through the coronavirus pandemic, rather than just waiting for it all to be over, we don't need anything more than ourselves.

Stay in touch without touching!