How to Enjoy the Holidays With Your Family Remotely

The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting new challenges this holiday season. Americans have been warned against traveling by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many people have resigned themselves to not seeing their loved ones for the festivities this year. However, you can still celebrate "together" even if you aren't really together.

Read on to find out how you can enjoy a remote holiday with your family and for guidance on what precautionary measures you should take if you plan to brave holiday travel.

Find festive activities you can all do remotely.

When you gather as a family for the holidays, you probably enjoy certain activities together, like caroling, decorating the tree, or watching Christmas movies. You don't have to meet face-to-face to share these moments. You can watch movies together remotely using tools like Netflix Party, Hulu Watch Party, and Scener. Get inspired with this list of family-friendly holiday flicks from today.

Want to sing carols together? Have everyone dial into a Zoom call. When it comes to decorating the tree, host a virtual decorating competition. Have everyone send photos of their decked-out tree and vote on the favorite.

Eat a holiday meal as a family via video call.

Thanks to modern video conferencing technology like Zoom, you can have your holiday meal together. It probably doesn't make sense to prepare a huge turkey, ham, or similar dish when you're split up, so consider choosing an alternative holiday recipe. The Spruce Eats has great ideas, like Christmas tacos. You can each prepare your meal and then designate a time to sit down and eat, drink, and be merry at the same time.

Are you coping with different time zones? Don't worry — while one person eats dinner, another can have brunch (or lunch or breakfast, depending on the time shift).

Put extra effort into sending personalized presents.

This year, you have to rely on old-fashioned snail mail to ensure your loved ones get their gifts. Instead of sending many different items via Amazon, take the time to create a personalized package yourself. This allows you to add a one-of-a-kind handwritten card. Check out Etsy for unique options.

Do your shopping online to save money on gifts. Many big-name brands offer cashback deals and similar promotions that can help you save. Check out these Macy's coupons to get started.

Move your family game night tradition online.

Many families spend quality time together over the holidays playing board games. Again, modern technology means you can move this tradition online. Parade has a list of 26 games you can play with friends or family online, including Words with Friends 2, Uno, Monopoly, and Cards Against Humanity. Video-conferencing tools can be useful if you want to play games that require a physical presence, like charades.

Take precautions to reduce your infection risk if traveling.

If you do end up traveling for the holidays, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. The Mayo Clinic offers a comprehensive guide. They suggest wearing a cloth face mask, cleaning your hands often, and limiting contact with frequently touched surfaces like elevator buttons. For air travel, make sure to pack a bottle of hand sanitizer no larger than 12 ounces in your carry-on bag.

The holiday season will undoubtedly look different in the wake of COVID-19. Whether you are celebrating remotely or traveling with precautionary measures, you will have to adapt. That doesn't mean you have to lose your holiday cheer, however. Hopefully, the above guide has given you inspiration on ways to enjoy the festivities regardless.

Thank you,

Emma

emmagracebrown.com

The Rich Aunt is all about helping people discover new adventures. For advice on discovering new countries or adopting new holiday traditions, visit the site today.