How To Celebrate the Holidays Safely

The holidays are a time usually spent celebrating among friends and family. While gathering with your loved ones to enjoy the holidays is as important as ever in 2020, given the circumstances you may find yourself having to modify your plans this season to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Think of it as an opportunity to do something “outside the box” as opposed to the usual routine. With that in mind, let’s look at a few ways to celebrate the holidays safely this year.

 

Virtual Celebration

Ok… I know the idea of having a virtual holiday celebration sounds kinda lame at first, but I’ve actually done the “Zoom dinner date” thing with some friends in Nashville (hi, guys) and it was fun! Technology has come far enough to where we can enjoy each other’s company without putting ourselves at risk, and 2020 seems like the perfect year to take advantage of these innovations. Pro tip: If your smartphone or laptop screen is too small, try broadcasting your computer display on your TV via Bluetooth or HDMI.

 

 

Small Gathering

If you come from a large family, the typical holiday celebration might consist of anywhere between 15-25 people every year. This year, it’s probably best to limit your gathering to your immediate family, ideally only people who live in your household. You can always combine this tip with #1 and make it a live / virtual party hybrid!

 

 

Send Food and Gifts

Another great way to give thanks and show appreciation to those you love is to prepare a delicious dish and ship it to your close friends or family. Currently, the CDC says there is no COVID-19 risk in handling or consuming food, and the US Postal Service offers several options for shipping food that might work for your needs. You can also organize a gift exchange by sending gift wrapped packages to each other and opening them virtually! 

 

 

Donate!

This holiday season in particular is especially important considering the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many losing loved ones and falling on hard times financially. A good way to give back is to donate toys, money, food, and even time to a local charity of your choice.