Holiday Traditions Worth Keeping
In a year of different, keep some things the same.
“Make Your Bed.” This simple advice has given us life since the pandemic hit. You can read here about why this matters, but the upshot is that in times of crisis, we crave quotidien habits and guideposts that lend a sense of normalcy and progress. We recommend taking the same approach to this year’s holidays. Sure, our new not-at-all normal has us honing our adaptive skills and thinking outside the (perfectly wrapped) box. But what’s new is best served with a healthy side of tradition to anchor us.
Deck those halls.
We can understand the urge—especially if your nest is empty—to resist hauling out the holly and ivy. After all, if no one is there to witness the Martha Stewart who lives within you, did decorating even happen? And why bother? Because it absoluf*ckinglutely matters. First, we dare you not to keep holiday spirit at bay once you’re immersed in twinkle lights. More importantly, we could all use a change of scenery. Holiday decorations are the comfort food of decor—and they’re bound to energize your outlook while restoring a welcome sense of nostalgia.
Bake it ‘til you make it.
If you’re used to converting your kitchen into a working bakery this time of year to supply office parties and neighborhood gatherings with customary confections, you may be missing that usual sugar rush this year. But we invite you to break out the cookie cutters anyway. Not only is it a festive, fun and joyous something to do (this year made even more stress-free without the deadline of events bearing down), but you can still share your sweet treats far and wide thanks to contactless delivery.
Mix and mingle.
Not actually mingle, of course. But are there people or groups you usually connect with this time of year to clink glasses of cocktails or mocktails and reflect on the year? In this case, while we recognize that virtual isn’t the same as IRL, it’s still a virtue. Instead of just jumping into Zoom willy-nilly, why not add a little intention by pre-sending a prompt for the group to tackle? “Write a letter to your January 2020 self” is one idea with lots of mileage that could take directions funny or meaningful.
