A few weeks into the coronavirus pandemic, the rules for social distancing have been pretty clearly established: stay inside as much as you can, and if you must venture out for essential services, keep a safe distance of two metres between yourself and others.

Physically, weve never been more separated from each other. Yet thanks to Zoom, smartphones and the internet you might even find that youre connecting with people more despite being remote. But as we support each other by staying in touch virtually, sharing links to the latest coronavirus updates and commiserating over our (often shared) anxieties, its not uncommon to get overwhelmed and crave a little emotional distance.

This increased social connection is amazing because its validating and distracting and often uplifting, said Jenna L. Schleien , a psychologist. However, spending a huge part of each day listening to others fear and anxiety can take a toll on our mental health.