The holiday season has finally arrived and over the past year, Covid-19 guidelines have become less strict. But of course, this doesn’t mean the fight is entirely over and that we should act as if we are no longer affected by this pesky virus. Being with loved ones during Christmas is something we all desire, but it is important to do these things in a Covid safe way to protect your family and prevent a spike in Covid cases. But there is no need to feel discouraged about having an amazing Christmas.
As you may know, a booster shot has recently been introduced since vaccine immunity has been shown to wear off over time. The booster is meant to be given 6 months after your original Johnson & Johnson vaccine or Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, it is an extra dose of the vaccine to make sure your body’s immune system remains strong and knows how to fight off the virus. A new strain of Covid-19, the Omicron variant, was also recently been found. The new strain is slowly beginning to spread quicker and quicker with the symptoms resembling those of the flu along with body aches. As of right now, there is no reason to believe that the vaccine will not help fight the Omicron variant. Though the vaccine and booster shot are only recommended, it’s still something to consider getting, especially this holiday season. That being said there are still plenty of safe activities and precautions you can take to remain happy and healthy during the holidays.
Have a Christmas Movie Night
Movie nights are always a blast, but they are even better when it’s cold out and you are surrounded by warm fuzzy blankets while drinking hot cocoa. Make sure to compile a list of staple Christmas movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elf, The Polar Express, and any other movie that puts you in the Christmas spirit. One of the best ways to have a Covid free Christmas is staying in the house with your family or a few loved ones. If seeing those you love in person is not an option then you can even use chrome extensions, like Scener or Netflix Party, that are designed for you to watch movies online with others with automatically synced audio and video. Many of these extensions also make it possible for you to see and speak with whoever you are watching the movie with while it’s playing.
DECORATE!!!
Decorating a Christmas tree, gingerbread houses, or your house while Christmas music is playing in the background will surely put you in a better mood whether you are by yourself, with a couple of friends, or on-call with some family. Getting creative is what the holiday season is all about and expressing yourself through Christmas crafts is a great way to do that. It’s also a really fun way to keep you occupied and cheerful. Doing holiday arts and crafts is something you can do safely in the comfort of your own home with a bit of vaccinated or masked company.
Online Shopping
Nothing is more fun than going to the mall with your friends, especially when you get to shop for Christmas presents and decorations. But since many people are probably going to do some last-minute gift shopping and the stores can be crowded, a mall might not be the ideal place to go when you are trying to stay Covid free. So, the next best thing is online shopping; it’s just like regular shopping but from the comfort of your own home. An even more fun way of doing this is face-timing or calling your friends while you all online shop together. Just like going to the mall with your friends, but it’s safe and you can do it all from your snug and comfy bed.
D.I.Y. Holiday Drinks
Around this time of year, many coffee shops begin to market their own special holiday drinks like pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint hot chocolate. Learning how to make these drinks yourself would not only keep you occupied but would help you learn a new skill. It’s also another way to stay out of highly populated stores at this time of year. Making your own drinks at home can also prevent any possibility of spreading a virus you might not have even known you had.
Online Christmas Party
Though it is possible to still have an in-person Christmas party, as long as you follow the Covid-19 guidelines, an online party may be a better option for those with more guests or families who don’t live close. Decorating together or doing Christmas D.I.Ys while listening to holiday music, watching movies, and playing games together are all things that can be done over a video call and will help you get into that merry holiday attitude. You can even bake and eat together as well as share recipes with each other. Another really fun thing to do with your family or friends is making a silly slide show about whatever weird thing you are passionate about and all getting a turn to present your project. It would also be exciting to do a Secret Santa but instead of giving the presents to each other in person, you send them to their house and make sure you don’t open it until the online party.
At the end of the day, all that matters is that you had fun and you were safe doing it. An important rule of thumb to follow is to wear a mask or hold an outdoor gathering if you are going to be meeting with a lot of people. Celebrating the holidays with your loved ones is not entirely out of the picture, just remember to stay safe and mindful. The more cautious we are, the sooner things can hopefully return to normal.