5 Ways to Manage Conflicts Caused by Social Distancing

5 Ways to Manage Conflicts Caused by Social Distancing As the United States continues to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of opinions have formed over what is and isn’t safe. Different stances have caused issues between families, friends and even communities. Here are five ways to help manage conflicts that may arise over how to handle social distancing and safety precautions. 1. If you’re not seeing eye-to-eye with someone over their choices, take a moment and empathize with them. Even if your perspectives don’t align, it’s important to take their feelings into consideration and remain level-headed. 2. Communicate clearly. If you make your expectations for an outing known from the beginning, it will help you avoid conflict later on. 3. Although it may be easy to justify going to a group gathering because you’re already making trips for essentials, remember to stick to your values. 4. With tensions running high, it’s easy to take canceled plans and snide comments more personally than you usually would. Take a deep breathe and remember that different people are comfortable with different things; it’s not about you. 5. If you find yourself being pressured to participate in social activities, try to think outside the box and find a safer alternative.