From graduations to birthdays, nothing has been the same this year. With the approaching holidays, you might be feeling unsure about how to connect with loved ones as you’ve done in the past. What can you do when you can’t physically see your loved ones? We have some ideas:
Virtual Gatherings: Turn meal prep into a virtual cooking lesson! Two or three people will share a recipe ahead of time, and then take turns demonstrating how to make it -- with the whole group preparing it at the same time, in the safety of their own kitchen. It’s a great way to learn something new, and share a few laughs well before it’s time to sit down and eat. Mix up the recipes a bit so there’s something easy and fun for the kids to do as well.
Online White Elephant Gift Exchange: If one of your beloved holiday traditions includes exchanging funny gifts, no need to miss out this year. Online platforms such as White Elephant Online make it easy to plan and conduct the gift swap entirely online using any video conferencing tool. It’s a great option for families, friends, and coworkers to continue an annual tradition and share a few laughs as well.
Holiday Lights Tour. Driving around to look at holiday light displays is still perfectly safe -- as long as only members of your own household are in the car. But this year, why not expand a little and take advantage of the amazing light displays from around the world that can be enjoyed with a virtual tour? From historic European cities to charming US landmarks, you could pick a different holiday light experience every night and still not see them all. Many are one or two night events only, while some run through the entire season. Just search for “Virtual holiday light tours” and start planning now.
Movie Night: Whether you press play at the same time or use a streaming service that allows group watching, dedicate a certain day of the week as movie night. Is there a show you’re particularly excited about? Dedicate one day a week to watch a new episode with some of your closest friends. Not only is it fun, but it also provides time together — even when you’re physically apart.
Craft Day: Have a virtual craft day! Make an ornament, homemade snow globe or handmade orange garland. Spend time together while doing something fun and simple, making memories that will last a lifetime.
Book Club: Establish your own book club! Pick a bestseller or a book you’ve heard a lot about to read for a month and then arrange a virtual meeting to discuss. Invite friends, colleagues and family to join in. It’s a fun event that can easily turn into an annual or quarterly, if not monthly occurrence.
All traditions have to start somewhere, so why not make some new ones this year? Even if you don’t carry out these traditions after this unusual year, your family and friends will surely remember them for years to come.
This article first appeared in the December 2020 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.
