We all hoped things would be back to normal for the holiday season, but when we began hearing rumors about a second wave hitting us by fall, we realized it wasn’t likely that anything about 2020, including the holidays, would be normal.
The CDC is recommending that we all avoid air and sea travel this holiday season. If you’re trying to stay on Santa’s “nice” list by following these guidelines but wondering what on earth there is to do on Thanksgiving when you’re not traveling, packing, cooking, cleaning, hosting and gathering, I’ve created a list of ideas. Find one that works for you or be oh-so-extra and choose a few different ones on the list.
- Catch up on some sleep. I know this sounds like a euphemism for “just be lazy” but if I had my way, I’d be napping every Thanksgiving, especially when that Turkey Coma starts to hit but there’s a pile full of dishes to do. Sleep in late or take a nap in the afternoon. This holiday just became super stress-free, and that’s something we can be thankful for.
- Host a Zoomsgiving Dinner. Have dinner with your family (whether local or far) over a Zoom call. It’s easy, it makes you feel connected, and you don’t have to get fancy with the food. You have the freedom to eat whatever you want! If one family member wants steak and another wants pizza, go for it. No rules!
- Binge-watch an entire series. I’m sure you’ve heard everyone talking about at least one show you’ve never seen before. Use the day to get caught up on the pop culture and binge the heck out of it. Some of my personal favorites? Breaking Bad, The Good Place, and Game of Thrones. Ones on my list I still need to watch: Ozark, Homeland, or The Crown.
- Practice self care. Read. Journal. Take a hot bath. Give yourself a facial. Meditate. Practice your yoga. Pour some hot tea. Get cozy. Go for a walk. Turn on the diffuser. Listen to music. Whatever you love to do to pamper yourself is what you should spend some time doing today.
- Stimulate your mind with a game. Whether you’re playing games on your phone, a game console, or just an old-fashioned board game, find a way to release your inner child and spend some time exercising the art of “play.” If this is something you do regularly, choose something different, maybe something from your childhood, like completing a puzzle or playing Monopoly, or you could even learn something new like Chess or Backgammon. Even a simple game of charades with someone in your household or over a video call would be a sure guarantee for some fun and laughter.
- Make your home feel festive. If you haven’t already done it, start decorating your house with holiday décor or put up the tree or menorah. Even if you’re going to be the only one who ends up seeing it, who cares? The holidays are all about memories, traditions and nostalgia anyway. Turn on some holiday music and bake some holiday cookies. If you’ve already decorated, go online and do some more gift shopping. If you’re able to support small businesses while you shop, even better. Think of using Etsy or other online small businesses.
- Have a holiday movie marathon. Spend the day watching all your favorite holiday movies. I can imagine a whole day on the couch, wearing cozy pajamas, and watching Elf, Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Scrooged, and A Christmas Story. Don’t forget to throw in some classics like Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
- Stick with the Classics. If you’re wanting to pretend that things are as close to normal as possible on Thanksgiving, stick to as many of your normal traditions as possible. This may include eating a traditional dinner of turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes (and don’t forget the pumpkin pie!) and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and football games on TV. You can also get nostalgic by looking through old photo albums of holidays from the past and paying tribute to any family members who are no longer with you.
