How to Connect with Your Family This Holiday Season

If your family is trimming its Christmas guest list or forgoing holiday celebrations together this year, you certainly aren't alone. According to Morning Consult, 71 percent of Americans have said they plan to change up their holiday traditions in late 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

But that doesn't mean you can't still connect and celebrate in a meaningful way. Indeed, now is the time to get creative and have a little fun in an otherwise gloomy year. Not sure where to get started? Use the tips below to let your family know, even when you can't all be together, you're still thinking about them fondly.

Send Some Meaningful Holiday Snail Mail

No matter the occasion, it's easy to brighten someone's day and put a smile on their face when they receive something personal in the mail - and that includes a meaningful Christmas card. To add that warm touch, you can personalize your holiday cards by adding a special note on a card featuring custom fonts and colors. Additionally, take some family photographs leading up to the holiday season or simply include a snap that captures a favorite memory or milestone that your recipients are sure to love and cherish. Although you may or may not be gathering together for the holidays, this will serve as a way to help your family feel special and remembered while reflecting on the joy of the season.

Gift Your Family the Flavors of the Season

Nothing speaks more to the holidays than the flavors of the season. Every family has its own traditional favorites, so break out your grandma's treasured cookie recipe and mail it to your family. If spending time in the kitchen isn't your thing, find a local business or look to one of the many online retailers that sell gift baskets or food items to match your needs. Say your family doesn't live too far away. If that's the case, you can always exchange treats in-person or drop off the usual favorites at their doorstep. No matter how you celebrate this year, it's a nice reminder of past celebrations, even if you can't all get together to enjoy it.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

While you may not be able to celebrate in-person with your immediate family, that doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the traditions, cringe-worthy or otherwise, during this uncanny year. In fact, if you're forced to celebrate from afar, use video conferencing technology to your advantage to enjoy all the fun and excitement. Say you always watch A Christmas Story or It's a Wonderful Life together as a family. Then pop on those movies at the same time and pull up Zoom on your laptop or tablet so you can recite your favorite lines or make wisecracks together like always. While you won't be able to share the popcorn, you can still enjoy the warmth of togetherness.

Get Your Game Face On

Having a smaller family gathering means it's easier to break out the board games. And, as the old saying goes, "The family that plays games together, stays together" - and has a lot of fun in the process. Something like that, anyway. Plus, as a small group, you'll have a wider variety of games - including those that involve strategy and cooperation to reach a common goal - to play and finish. If your holiday plans are canceled, move your gaming to an online platform. You'll find all kinds of ways to play. From multiplayer games online to smartphone apps to standalone gaming systems, the options are endless.

It's Easy to Connect From Anywhere

This year is unlike any other, and as we've all experienced firsthand, you don't have to necessarily be together with family and friends to have fun and make some lasting memories. Regardless of your holiday plans, send your loved ones some holiday cards and favorite treats, communicate with them via video conferencing platforms, and get a little social online or offline together. Keep making memories, wherever the holiday finds you.