In case you live under a rock and aren’t aware, this holiday season will not be your typical celebration. The CDC is recommending that you gather only with people in your immediate household or with ample precautions (e.g. wearing masks, social distancing, frequent handwashing, etc.). But that doesn’t mean you can’t still connect over the holidays—there’s a whole host of solutions at our fingertips in order to keep cheer alive.
- Host a group video call (the most obvious tip). Nowadays, there are a ton of platforms for you to choose from, so find whatever works best for the group.
- Participate in a holiday bake-off. If you live close enough to drop things off at front doors, this is a great option to get a little taste of home cooking. You make a certain home-baked treat, deliver it by a previously established time, and then coordinate a video call to share and review your new goodies. You can also send treats via mail if you’re farther away, you just have to be cognizant of what you bake!
- Write to someone (yes, actually write). Put pen to paper and send some good old fashioned letters. This might seem a small thing, but they mean so much to people. The postal service may be delayed right now, but it’ll get there eventually and still give that feeling of togetherness.
- Bring back PowerPoint parties. This early-pandemic relic still works during the holidays. Have everyone prepare a holiday-related topic to share with the group. Share a funny story, a life update, old family photos, your newly discovered favorite TV show, whatever you want! No awkward small talk here.
- Stream movies at the same time. Have a tradition of watching *insert holiday movie here*? You can still watch it all together! Many streaming services have extensions that can let you watch with other people at the same time. The Teleparty extension works with many videos on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu. On top of that, Disney+ has its own feature called GroupWatch and Amazon Prime has Watch Party. All of these extensions are geared to let you stream along with your loved ones.
- Play some virtual card games. If you’re a fan of sleight of hand, don’t let distance stop you from participating. Multiple platforms allow you to remotely play virtual card games, such as Trickster Cards or Houseparty.