‘Tis the season to be jolly, but many of us may be feeling grinchy this year. With the pandemic still a looming threat to our health and happiness, the economy still a hot mess, and so many of our favorite seasonal activities canceled, getting into the holiday spirit can be challenging.
Lucky for you, we’re feeling nice, even during these naughty times. We’ve compiled a list of tips and strategies to help you keep the cheer in the holidays this year, even during COVID-19.
Go virtual
Have your holiday plans been canceled because of a last-minute quarantine?
Hosting a virtual get-together with your family and friends instead of the in-person gathering you’d planned can still allow you to spend time with the people you care about. Share a menu, create a program that can include binge-watching the best holiday movies together or playing virtual holiday games, and be sure to mail out your gifts with enough time to reach your loved ones by Christmas. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ offer shared viewing options so you can stream movies together, even if you can't be together.
Give of your time
The holidays will have an extra measure of loneliness for the elderly this year. Take the time to reach out to an elderly relative, neighbor or friend who is stuck inside, and share some holiday cheer. If the elderly acquaintance is tech-savvy, jump on a video call together. Otherwise, use the time to inquire about their well-being and update them about your life. If you dare, sing some holiday songs together over the phone.
Giving to others will make your own holiday a little bit brighter.
Be flexible
As you've probably learned throughout this year, it's good to keep an open mind about remain flexible in your plans. Expect the unexpected and go with the flow to help keep your holiday season positive, especially as holiday plans change and adjust to current recommendations. Being mentally prepared for changes will make them easier to handle.
Stay positive
It’s hard not to feel down when thinking about the cold, dark winter ahead — one that will harsher this year with our “new normal.” Keeping a positive outlook goes a long way toward making this year’s holiday season easier to handle. Remember that we know a lot more about the virus now than we knew in the spring and that a vaccine may soon be a reality.
Recharge
Don't forget to find time for self-care each day during the hectic holidays. Take a quick walk around the block, indulge in a hot bath with only your favorite scented candles for company or schedule in a timeout from your phone each evening. These slices of alone time can be crucial to your mental health.
Make self-care a priority, both mentally and physically. Exercising regularly, eating well and getting sufficient sleep will help boost your psychological wellness.
Simplify
2020 was the year we all learned to revise and reframe our realities. We discovered that we could get by without our weekly manicures, survive months without the gym and attend all kinds of social events, from weddings to graduations to birthday parties, while wearing fuzzy socks and sweatpants.
As we draw the curtains on a year that will forever be marked by face masks and fear, let’s carry our new minimalist attitude toward all things material. We can stand to trim our gift lists this year, to forego the annual gathering with the entire extended family and to dine in throughout the holidays. Lowering the bar will help us keep the cheer in the holidays this year and save us money at the same time.
The 2020 holiday season will likely follow the pattern of the entire year. We will celebrate differently. There may be fewer gifts and excursions and no crowded parties; however, by using the tips outlined above, you can keep the holidays cheerful this year no matter which way the infection rate spikes.
Happy holidays from Wasatch Peaks!
