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With many of us making the tough decision of whether to stay home or visit loved ones during the holidays, realizing most of our favorite events will be canceled, and trying to figure out how to stay safe during flu season, the holidays might look a little gloomier than usual. But that doesn’t have to be the case. While it might be hard to wrap your head around the changes at first—especially if you’re going to miss out on seeing certain family members in person—it’s important to keep things in perspective and get creative.
You can still make the holiday season fun for you and your family, even though you’ll have to make some adjustments to your usual plans. To help you get the wheels turning and awaken your festive cheer, here are some ideas for how to make the most of the holidays this year.
Decorate a little earlier
Most of us could use some more light and positivity in our lives right now, so why not throw the rules out the window and decorate a little earlier this year. Put up the glowing lights, shimmering decor, and festive flare to usher your home into the holiday season. Drag out those boxes from the garage or the attic as soon as you’re ready—trust me, no one will judge you for wanting to inject some fun and holiday excitement into your home. Plan a day with your family, put on some music, and help create a festive ambiance that you can enjoy all season long.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels
Give meaningful gifts
Of course we always intend for our gifts to have meaning behind them, but this year most of us are in greater need. While you might have your eyes on that leather jacket your daughter has been wanting forever, think of something that could really help her out, like new tires. Or, instead of concert tickets for an event that will likely be delayed, look at beautiful rose gold watches for women for your niece who’s about to start her first post-college job and needs to professionalize her wardrobe ASAP.
Another way to look at this is to consider who in your life is in genuine need and forgo regular presents. Is your friend’s family struggling after layoffs? Purchase a gift card for groceries instead of your usual expensive bottle of wine. You could also forgo the standard gift giving and donate that money to a good cause in your community or focus on just spending time at home with those you love this holiday season—especially if you’re struggling right now to make ends meet. Trust me, nobody appreciates presents more than your sense of financial stability.
Throw a virtual holiday party with friends
For most of us, the best part of the holidays is spending time with our family and friends. While you might not be able to gather in person, you can still get in some quality time virtually. Plan to open presents at the same time with family near and far, schedule holiday activities like cookie decorating or crafting with your kids’ friends and their parents, and set aside time for your own socializing (making yummy festive cocktails and wine tasting are fun even when you aren’t face to face)—all of which can be done over video conference.
Drive around to look at yard decorations
A popular holiday tradition is to drive around your neighborhood to look at lights and yard decorations. This year, why not take it up a notch? As we’ve seen with Halloween, so many people have extra time on their hands to get creative, which means we’ll likely see some of the most impressive holiday displays in recent years. Make it a weekly family activity to go to a new local neighborhood and walk or drive around to look at the lights. Bring hot cocoa and jackets if you live somewhere cold.
The key to making this holiday season count is keeping the important things in mind, like feeling grateful for your family and the time you have together. Make new traditions and new memories with these ideas for making the most of the holiday season, despite everything else going on in the world.