The holiday period is generally a time of love and togetherness, but with the pandemic still in full swing, it’s time to prepare for the possibility that we may not physically get to spend this Christmas with our loved ones. While this is certainly a blow, it doesn’t mean the holiday season is ruined. You can still celebrate in other ways, and the following tips should help you get in the (distant) Christmas spirit:
Share A Meal
While we may not all be able to sit down around the table and carve up our festive favorites together, it is still possible to share a delicious meal. Consider sending a Christmas hamper to your loved ones and ordering the same one for yourself. It obviously won’t be exactly like the real thing, but the fact that you’re all sharing the same meal can still give you the warm and fuzzies.
Swap Self-Care Packages
Caring for our mental health is more important now than ever before, so swapping little self-care packages can be a great way to celebrate the holiday season. Collect up something soft to cuddle, a few bath and body products, some cozy pajamas, a collection of essential oils, and an aromatherapy diffuser. Pop them in a basket with your loved one’s favorite snacks and send them off with a handwritten note. It won’t be the same as a physical hug, but they’ll certainly be able to feel your love, regardless of the distance.
Create A Christmas Playlist Together
Another great way to bond this festive season is by creating a collaborative playlist. One of the best things about spending more time with your family over the holiday season is being able to catch up properly and share what you’ve been up to (and into) for the past year. Sharing your music with each other is one way to emulate that closeness when you can’t be there physically.
Cook Together
Are you missing the moments in which everyone gathers round in the kitchen to cook up a storm? Why not try video chatting while you whip up some of your Christmas favorites?
Unless your loved ones hold their recipes in a top-secret vault, have everyone share the ingredient list and method a few days beforehand so you can grab anything you need from the shops. Then, fire up your preferred video chat platform and let the good times flow.
Hot Tip: If someone doesn’t have the cookware they need to create some of the dishes on the menu, this makes a great gift.
Share Your Hobbies
Another great way to celebrate the holidays and feel connected with your loved ones is to share your hobbies. For example, if you read, send them some of the books you’ve been enjoying over the past year. If soap making is more your thing, have a kit delivered to their home so they can give it a go.
Sharing interests is a great way to strengthen bonds, and you’ll also be helping to alleviate some of their boredom if they’re stuck in a lockdown. Plus, if they find that they enjoy your hobbies, you’ll have something new to do together next time you can see each other.
Physical distance doesn’t have to equal mental or emotional distance. By keeping in touch and celebrating the holidays in new ways, you can still enjoy the festive season with your loved ones, no matter how far away they may be.
