How To Handle The Holidays During The Pandemic

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How To Handle The Holidays During The Pandemic

If we had known last year that we may not be able to spend the holidays with our loved ones in 2020, we all may have done things differently. This year we don’t have much of a choice. To keep our elderly and sick family members safe, we have to rethink how we host our gatherings. While we still have the option of gathering in person, many of us will choose to host a cyber celebration.

Here’s how to make the most of a socially-distanced holiday season.

Safety At Home

Just about all areas in the US have enacted restrictions or given recommendations on how to handle family gatherings. Some areas, such as San Francisco, prefer that you host an outdoor event with no more than six people (25 if there is no food). If you choose an outdoor party, there are safety precautions you can take to make it a healthier experience for everyone.

Create a designated zone where everyone will stay put and socialize. Make one bathroom available, and ask that guests use hand sanitizer before going into the house and to wash their hands thoroughly when done. Enhance the mood while keeping everyone warm by building a simple fire pit. This is not a complicated process, but you do have to keep watch on the types of materials you use. If you’re using stone, for example, wait until they are completely dry before lighting your fire; otherwise, you risk a quick burnout. If you have a bigger budget, a few patio heaters can also add warmth.

Something else many health experts recommend is using disposable plates, cups, and cutlery. And, as awkward as it might seem, it’s perfectly acceptable to request that each family bring their own food to reduce the potential of sharing germs from one family to the next. If you are cooking, it might make sense to invest in inexpensive cookware and kitchen gadgets that you can throw away after the event. A can opener, for example, will likely cost less than $15 and will speed up the preparation process; at this price point, it’s disposable so you do not have to worry about lingering germs on your most-used kitchen appliances.

Fun From Afar

A less risky option for the 2020 holiday season is to host a virtual gathering. You can do this using online meeting software, such as Go-To-Meeting, Alexa, or Zoom. Older parents and grandparents may need new technology to make this happen, so a great Christmas gift this year is a smart home hub, like the Echo Show or Facebook Portal.

To ensure your entire family feels together while you’re apart, plan to dress alike on your big day. Other ideas to enjoy a social experience are to cook together virtually, play trivia games, and open pre-delivered gifts in front of your webcams. Depending on what platform you use for your online gathering, you may be able to screen share a photomontage of key moments of your life together as a family. Pictures from your parents’ or grandparents’ weddings, your own children’s birth, and photos of any family service members along with those who have passed will be a welcome reminder of what the holidays are about.

This year is going to be different. But that does not mean that you can’t have a fabulous time with those you love. Whether you choose to get together for outdoor entertainment or stick closer to home and connect online, make the most of your holidays. Although the pandemic has put a damper on many things, the attitude you have about it today will affect your memories of this holiday season in the years to come.

Visit Jennifer Rae Poe’s blog for useful information for moms and other young professionals on navigating life while trying to balance relationships and work.