5 Ways to Navigate the 2020 Holiday Season During COVID-19

We know what you’re thinking: How in the world are we supposed to get through this 2020 holiday season? This Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, and New Year will be different than any other ones that we’ve ever experienced, so how are we supposed to know how to go about celebrating safely? We’ve created a guide for you to help you celebrate the holidays while also staying healthy – both mentally and physically. Here are five ways to navigate the 2020 holiday season in the age of COVID-19.

Focus on Gratitude and Positivity to Combat COVID-19

‍There’s a lot that we might be missing out on this 2020 holiday season, but focusing on that isn’t going to make us feel any better. The holidays are a time to focus on the positive, even amid quarantine and COVID-19. Even though quarantine is not ideal, there’s still plenty of positivity to focus on – and focusing on this positivity is one way to protect your mental health during quarantine.

One way you can do this is by gratitude journaling. Try writing down at least five things that you’re grateful for during the 2020 holiday season. You might even want to spread extra positivity and gratitude by letting people know that you’re grateful for them. If you wrote down a certain person on your gratitude list, shoot them a text letting them know that you’re grateful for them and why. This is a great way to share the love during Thanksgiving 2020 and Christmas 2020, despite the chaos that coronavirus has caused. Practicing gratitude daily is a great healthy habit to form throughout the holiday season and beyond.

The 2020 Holiday Season is All About Goal Setting

‍As we all know, the holiday season usually flies by super quickly, seemingly in the blink of an eye. Before we know it, it will be the new year and time for some new year’s resolutions. Get a head start on this by setting goals for the holiday season. Use the extra time you have this 2020 holiday season to set goals personally and professionally. Not sure where to start? Ask yourself the following questions.

‍Personal goals:

• Who do I want to connect with or reconnect with this 2020 holiday season?
• How can I make Thanksgiving 2020 great for my family?
• Who are some people I would really like to make feel special this Christmas 2020?
• How can I grow on my personal spiritual journey during this 2020 holiday season?

Professional goals: 

• What would I like to accomplish at work by the end of the year?
• What do I need to get done at work to make sure I can relax during the holidays?
• Who do I want to network with before the holidays?

Maintain Contact with Friends and Family Despite Quarantine

While we are still in quarantine and still dealing with physical isolation, we must stay connected with other human beings in the ways that we can. We may not be able to have in-person parties or travel to family this 2020 holiday season, but this gives us all the more reason to connect virtually. Here are some ideas for virtual get-togethers that you can do with family or friends.

• Have a White Elephant/Secret Santa party via Zoom. Have someone assign who gets gifts for who, and then mail the gift to the recipient’s house. On the night of the party, everyone can take turns opening their gifts on camera.
• Have a holiday dinner together by cooking the same meals and enjoying them together on Zoom. 
• Share your favorite recipes with loved ones and try new traditions from other families and friends.
• Play interactive games on Houseparty.
• Use Netflix Party to watch your favorite holiday movies together. 
• Spend time on Ancestry.com to find out and learn about older relatives and talk about what you learn.

Get creative! As long as you have your friends/family and Zoom (or your preferred video communication platform) the virtual hang-out possibilities are endless. Not to mention, you can rest easy knowing that you aren’t risking COVID-19 infection when you socialize virtually.

Get Exercise and Focus on Your Health Throughout the Holidays

This 2020 holiday season more than ever it’s important to take care of your physical health. We want to be in tip-top shape to keep our immune system nice and strong during the coronavirus pandemic. Not to mention, this can help you ward off symptoms of seasonal depression. Here are some general health tips to keep you healthy during the 2020 holiday season.

• Aim for around eight hours of sleep every night
• Eat a balanced diet incorporating all of the food groups
• Avoid too much unhealthy snacking
• Take vitamins/supplements to support your immune system and overall health
• Create a workout routine that’s easy to maintain at home
• Talk to your doctor if you have any health concerns

Of course, another crucial part of staying physically healthy during this time is to continue to follow social distancing guidelines! 

Prioritize Learning and Growth To Prepare for After the 2020 Holiday Season

The holidays are often a selfless time, which is great, but remember to take care of yourself to make sure you stay on the right path with your personal growth. While you prioritize your loved ones during the 2020 holiday season, don’t forget to also prioritize yourself and your learning. Here are some resources that may be helpful in your self-growth journey.

• Find your true purpose and learn to love yourself
• Learn how to calm down and reduce anxiety with the SHIFT method
• Cultivate a daily meditation practice with the help of our app
• Reset your routine and build healthy habits
• Boost your self-esteem with confidence affirmations

There’s no doubt that the 2020 holiday season is going to feel a little weird, but this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Focus on the positives, remember? Follow our tips and you’ll be on the right track to navigating Thanksgiving 2020 and Christmas 2020 during quarantine.