The coronavirus might have forced us to adjust some of our holiday traditions, but that’s no reason not to find joy in this holiday season and celebrate safely with our loved ones. With these easy tips, you will be able to enjoy Christmas and its magic, even more so than before considering that this year the focus will be on intimacy, simplicity and gratitude.
Prioritize the most meaningful traditions
This Christmas, it’s all about keeping it safe. Forget about all the traditions you used to hold in the past and prioritize the ones you like and mean the most to you.
“Think about what the essence of the holiday is for you, so you can try to preserve it,” suggests happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, author of Happier at Home. “Even if you’re not doing everything you used to, you can set up the holiday decorations, if that’s really important, or make the special foods you love.”
Do your gift shopping and shipping in advance
More and more people will opt for online shopping to avoid in-store crowds and comply with social distancing rules. While this is the safest thing you could do amid the pandemic, you have to keep in mind that there will be shipping delays as delivery companies will be bombarded with requests.
The best thing you can do is start shopping for gifts and whatnot as early as possible, to make sure you’ll have something to put under the Christmas tree. Check out these 9 Best Items to Get Your Hands On This December Before They Sell Out.
Trim a tree outdoors
Since you might be spending more time outdoors than in previous years, this Christmas is the perfect opportunity to step up your decorating game. Deck your deck or patio and decorate a tree outdoor with your nicest baubles and ornaments. You can secure the decorations with twist ties or florist’s wire.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find some interesting gifts underneath your outdoor Christmas tree, such as skis, sleds or snowshoes, to go with your outdoorsy approach to Christmas.
Create special memories
You might have been spending a lot more time in the company of your household members since the pandemic has started. But the holidays have to be something special and it’s important to set them apart from the rest of the days.
One fun way to do that is to create an advent calendar with interesting activities to do every day until Christmas. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can just watch have a Christmas movies’ marathon one day, sing carols or cook something festive together. This Carrot Cake Recipe might help you get into the Christmas spirit better.
Make the most of your time with loved ones
To stay on the safe side, it’s best to comply with what the CDC recommended and avoid indoor gatherings. After all, you wouldn’t want a COVID outbreak as a Christmas present, would you?
This means you will most likely need to limit your indoor time with people outside your household. The weather might not be the friendliest this time of the year, especially in the northern regions of the country, but outdoor gatherings are still better than indoor ones. As long as everyone is bundled-up and in a festive mood, the cold should not be a problem.
However, to avoid catching a cold, consider having your in-person events during the day, when it’s a bit warmer and easier to spend your time outside. You can organize outdoor activities that comply with social distancing rules but are still fun and entertaining, such as sledding or snow-fort making. Hot drinks are a must, so don’t forget about those to stay warm.
Spread some joy
If there’s something we’ve all realized in 2020, is that our families and loved ones mean the world to us. So, let them know what you feel and spread some joy in their hearts with small but kind gestures, full of love.
Send postcards to your family members or friends that cannot be with you this Christmas, make Christmas cookies and drop them off to your friends and neighbors. Leave Christmas treats to your local hospital or fire department to brighten their day and bring a smile to their faces.
Remember: this holiday is special because it’s different
If you don’t remember what you did last Christmas or the one before that, you will surely remember this year’s holiday season. It will be a Christmas of reflection and being appreciative of what we have.
“Things that go wrong often make the best memories,” Rubin says. “This exceptional holiday season will probably be more memorable because it’s so different. We just have to find a way to make the most of it.”
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