Ringing in the holidays this year may look different than the usual cheer that abounds during this time. Unfortunately, the world is still in the middle of a major pandemic; therefore, a socially distanced holiday season must ensue. Of course, there are ways to get around this ginormous issue and still have a fun family-filled time during the holidays. This can be done whether you’ve had COVID-19 or not. 

There are some upsides that could come of this if you are someone who has already had COVID-19 in the last three months. If this is you, it means the chances of catching the disease again, as well as being able to spread it, are unlikely for potentially three to seven months. Your chances of becoming re-infected even after this time period are still relatively low. Therefore, it may seem as though you will have a little extra freedom during this winter break. For example, you may be able to visit family and travel with improved immunity against the virus. In this way, there might be a positive to having caught the virus after all. However, since a lot is still unknown, it is recommended to remain cautious and protect yourself and others with continued use of face masks and sanitization.

If you are someone who has not caught this deadly illness, there are other ways for you to stay connected with your family during this time. In this situation, physically being surrounded by family might not be possible, but society today is very technologically advanced. There are many opportunities for virtual family time. One way to do this is to use Zoom. You could set up a family Zoom and have everyone connect through there. This way, each family or members of each family can stay safe in their own home while also being with the rest of the family. This may not be ideal, but if you’re someone who dreads Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family, then this could really aid you in avoiding family while also technically being connected to them. In fact, if it’s really not your thing, you could even mute yourself and turn off your camera. Nothing could get better than that. But if you are someone who loves the holidays and the togetherness of it all, you can still get a taste of this by having everyone on one call.

Unfortunately, none of these options are ideal, and it is true the holidays this year will be different than in previous years. But remember, the holidays are a time for happiness. It is up to us to make the best of this time. At the very least, be grateful you are healthy. In a year where there is a pandemic, it may be hard to find things to be grateful for, but I promise there is something you can be happy about this year. 

Bella is a junior in LAS

[email protected]