3 Keys to a Happier Holiday this Season

This year, the holiday season is bound to look and feel a bit different. In fact, 47 percent of respondents in a Morning Consult survey indicated they intend or have been forced to cancel their holiday plans, leaving many family dining room tables and living rooms with sparse turnout or nearly empty in just over two months.

But, as many of us have already discovered and learned this year, staying connected as a family means getting a bit more creative. To keep the magic of the holiday season alive — and to maintain tradition and your bond with loved ones — make sure to heed the following holiday tips.

1. Send Out Personalized Season’s Greetings

Just like any other year, sending out personalized Christmas cards to relatives is a great way to not only add a big dose of holiday cheer but to also keep in touch with loved ones in a more intimate manner. Skip the bland ho-hum cards and go for something that’s all your own. For example, illustrate how much the kids have grown, show off the new family puppy, or relive favorite moments from past holiday seasons through candid or posed photos.

If you’re unable to get together this year, make sure to add a heartfelt note that recaps achievements and memories made in 2020. Then again, why not go a bit more in-depth? Reminisce about past Christmas celebrations spent together and the joyful memories you’ve made. Ultimately, let the recipient know they aren’t far from your thoughts and that you look forward to when you can (safely) be together again.

2. Enjoy Christmas Dinner Outdoors

Without the pressure of hosting a large family gathering, know that you don’t need to opt for that big holiday feast that typically features a 10-pound turkey, a dozen sides, and multiple pies. Instead, if weather and health conditions allow, enjoy a smaller and more intimate holiday feast on an outdoor restaurant patio, or feel free to turn to nearby establishments for carry-out options to enjoy on your patio deck.

Should you choose the at-home option, relax together around a fire pit, grab a football or sled for some snowy fun, and/or bring on the family snowman competition. No matter what you decide, you can keep it safe and fun for everyone, without the hassle of endless dishes to wash. It might not be your typical holiday, but it will definitely be one you and yours will always remember.

3. Carve Out Some Fun Future Plans

From spending an inordinate amount of time with your immediate family to not being able to see much of your extended family without the use of technology, the holidays are bound to have their fair share of disappointments. Knowing the rest of the world is likely in the same predicament may alleviate those holiday blues, but you can better put things in perspective by planning a big family trip for the next calendar year. Fingers crossed.

Indeed, having something to look forward to in 2021 can help take the sting out of the changes and challenges of the present, and just thinking about an extended getaway can help boost your family’s spirits, something everyone can use right about now. Plus, you’ll have something new to discuss, debate, and dream about, all while having plenty of time to plot out the finer points of your trip and enough time for everyone to save up.

New Beginnings Await You and Yours

Whether you’ve had to limit family gatherings or are forgoing holiday visits altogether, it’s all about creating a meaningful celebration for everyone to enjoy. So, send out those personalized Christmas cards, make your holiday celebrations more low-key, and plan out a future vacation for when you can all be together again. Adaptation may be the theme of the past year, but you can still bring joy and light back to the season where they belong.