3 Ways You Can Make This the Best Holiday Season

We are seeing, hearing advertisement with Christmas feel and speaks about festive season and holidays, even our colleagues and friends are saying to us “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” in the text messages and emails. But somehow, something just doesn’t feel right. Adjusting your celebrations to the pandemic has left you short of holiday cheer but remember that different doesn’t have to mean bad. Focus on these three ideas and you might even find new ways to take some stress out of the holidays, spend time with loved ones safely, and build new holiday “SOP” that will last for years to come. 

1. Take care of yourself. 

Many of the conveniences we've grown accustomed to during the pandemic can make the holidays easier to plan for and manage -- while also limiting your risk of getting sick. Your favorite retailers are now probably merchant you discovered or get used to as you shop online. Or maybe, as you limit your day-to-day travel and spend more time in your neighborhood, you got to know the great shop near your house and they do offer delivery service for whatever you are getting from them. You could support your friend who has now ventured into offering food or services. These convenience and new alternatives allow you to order a precooked holiday meal or mailing their signature cake, or cookies to your family as gifts. But if you do shop in person, remember that your Santa beard, while festive, isn't a good substitute for a face mask.

Speaking of buying gifts, make sure you take care of your finances as well. Sit down with your spouse (if you are married) to make a list of loved ones to whom you want to send gifts and then decide how much you want to spend per person. A good holiday budget will limit spur-of-the-moment purchases and keep you off your credit card’s hook. 

As for the 3,000 calories a typical holiday meal can contain, try to limit your portions, especially if you have underlying health conditions and haven’t been as active as you usually are during the pandemic.

 2. Gather responsibly.

The safest way to celebrate your holidays this year, perhaps is to celebrate at home with the people who live with you. If you do decide to host or attend a party with people outside of your household, try to utilize larger rooms with good ventilation where families can create their own 1-m distancing (minimum). Yes, do not forget to social distance yourself during any gathering.

 It's also worth reconsidering some holiday traditions this year. Buffet-style meals or potluck style meal that everyone shares are more likely to spread germs than serving pre-portioned plates or having all guests bring their own food (for their own tummy only). And if you or anyone in your household isn’t feeling well, make the tough choice and isolate to keep your loved ones safe. 

3. Focus on what is important in the long term.

 Altering holiday plans will be painful after a year in which we've already sacrificed so much. Each of us will have to make its own decisions about the safest and most financially responsible ways to celebrate under these challenging circumstances. But even if this year's holidays won't be as perfect as years past, you and your loved ones still have so much to be grateful for. Your decorations are still glowing. Your clothes you just bought from 12.12 sales do fit you well. The fresh-baked cookies are still warm. And our family, near and far, have made it through one of the toughest years on record together. There are always good reasons to be grateful for, even during a challenging year like this.

Focus your energy on celebrating those good things now and start planning for the good things you’ll celebrate once you and all of your loved ones are together again. Talk about the things you want to do, the places you want to visit, the special events you want to make up for missing. Your family could look back on 2020 as the year when you all came together at the holidays – even though you were apart – and planned for a 2021 that you’ll treasure forever. 

You can also read about the 3 questions you and family can discuss during your gathering.

I wish you and your family a safe and fulfilling holiday season. At the same time, I look forward to helping you make 2021 as merry and bright as possible.