The first few months of stay-at-home orders thanks to the coronavirus pandemic seemed like the excuse we’d been looking for to avoid unruly traffic, eating out, and those annoyingly late nights with friends.

But then, a few more weeks and many more episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S later, we began to feel differently.

Slowly, the extravagant amount of me-time began to make us privy to spiralling thoughts and unsightly nose hairs (were they always there?), and even baking the banana bread lost its charm. And then, dare I say it, we wanted to see other people.

But how do we get our social fix while still limiting the risk factor?

An emerging global trend, ‘Social Bubbles’, offers a solution.

An Oxford University study on social bubbles says, “Instead of blanket self‒isolation policies, the emphasis on similar, community‒based, and repetitive contacts is both easy to understand and implement thus making distancing measures more palatable over longer periods of time.” This socialising model originated in New Zealand, one of the most successful countries in combating the virus, and was later also adopted in the UK.

But before you take out your party hats, you may ask, how do I form my own social bubble? And whom do I pick to be in it? Also, should I still be taking some precautions when I meet them?

Fret not, my fellow former recluses, for we have all the answers!

Social Bubbling 101: How to Make Your Own Social Bubble

Retired Delhi residents Renu and Narender Gandhi did not meet anyone for a good three months when the pandemic began. But slowly, the lack of company got a bit too much for the otherwise social couple, and they decided to form a social bubble with another retired couple they were friends with. For the past two months, the foursome have been meeting every evening over a game of cards and tea. The ground rule ‒ all of them have agreed not to meet anyone else.

Ideal bubble buddies would be people who:

• Live in your vicinity (‘love thy neighbour’, haven’t you heard?)

• Have similar schedules as you do, so that it is easy for you to meet as frequently as you like.

• Those working from home, or having limited or zero contact with others.

Before finalising your bubble (or ‘quaranteam,’ for those of you acquainted with Instagram hashtags) make sure you have a candid conversation with your friends to emphasise the golden rule ‒ no contact with non-bubble members. If you necessarily must meet with someone, such as co-workers or relatives, try to include them in your bubble.

How to Host Minimum-Contact Bubble Bashes

Now that you know how to make your own bubble, let’s talk about the things you need to keep in mind when you meet them.

Although you don’t need to follow social distancing rules with your quaranteam, it doesn’t hurt to be a little cautious. And what’s a namaste instead of a handshake when it lets you meet your friends?

Sneha Kapoor, 29, is part of a social bubble of 8. “Whenever we have a party at my house, I try to arrange the living room chairs at some distance from each other. This way, when people arrive, we can maintain some space, and I don’t have to ask anyone to move when we’re already settled.” Sneha also requests her bubble buddies to leave their masks and other belongings separately on a table near the door when they enter.

The Gandhis also participate in a similar practice. “Every time we go to their house, we take off our shoes at the front door and sanitise our hands thoroughly before entering.”

It is also recommended that the food that is served at these parties be in individual portions instead of shared ones. This means sandwiches and samosas over chips and gol gappas, which require everybody eating from a single bowl. That also means no more just-one-bite of my kulfi for you, Kiran.

Other things you can do

• Have a conveniently placed dustbin for the party so that everybody can throw their trash on their own, without the host having to touch it.

• Keep individual paper napkins in the restroom instead of a common towel for everyone to wipe their hands.

• Meet outdoors, in a park or on your terrace. In open environments, there is greater dispersal of air particles, drastically reducing the possibility of viral transmission.

Sanitising your hands from time to time is also a good idea.

“When a case of COVID-19 was reported in our next-door neighbour’s house, we immediately quarantined ourselves and advised our friends to do the same. We did not meet for two weeks till we were sure we’re safe,” shares Renu Gandhi.

Dr Suranjit Chatterjee warns against complacency when mingling through these bubbles.

In other words, while limited socialising through these bubbles may be a good idea, it’s still too soon to drink out of other people’s glasses.