This New Year’s Eve will look and feel different than last year’s celebrations because of social distancing. That means that we’ll have to stay at home, and the number of our guests will be limited to people who live in our households.
But that doesn’t mean your 2021 holiday can’t be festive and meaningful as it was in the past even if you have to celebrate it virtually with friends and family. We can reflect on the year that has gone and think about the future ahead. Saying goodbye to the year 2020 doesn’t have to be boring and unforgettable, and you can still have fun and enjoy New Year’s Eve while safely at home. Here are some ideas.
Dress Up
Do you like to pull out your best outfit for New Year’s Eve? You don’t have to wear the same hoodie you’ve lived in for the past several months to celebrate the new year. Don’t change this tradition. Put on your favorite holiday dress. No problem if the only one who sees it is your cat.
Host a Virtual Celebration
Even if you can’t be with your loved ones this year, you can still have a virtual New Year’s Eve party. It’s the best way to stay safe. Send out digital invitations to a virtual party to your friends and relatives via Zoom. You can also send each other care packages that you will open together. You may include some food, personal letters, music playlist you can listen to.
A good idea is to provide a virtual menu that all guests can duplicate, so everyone can enjoy the same foods. Talk, dance, and don’t forget to plan a virtual countdown to midnight. By hosting an online party, you can have a fabulous celebration. But you should plan ahead and select interesting activities that are specific to a virtual world.
Make a Festive Dinner
Sharing food has a way of making us feel connected, even if it’s over video chat. So why not enjoy a virtual dinner or dessert with family and friends. You can pick a special meal from your favorite local restaurant. If you are a good cook, you can cook something delicious yourself. For example, you can never go wrong with mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, roasted chicken, ham, green beans, and more.
Have a Dance Party
Don’t miss an opportunity to dance. Turn up the music and turn down the lights. Let loose and dance around your home with the people you live in. You can have a dance-off to make the party competitive.
Watch Movies
It’s a perfect idea for everyone who prefers to celebrate the New Year quietly. After the clock strikes midnight, you can host a movie marathon for your friends and family and watch whatever you want, for example, movies centered on special occasions such as the holidays. You can also enjoy watching late night scary movies. Just make sure that your Netflix is working fine.
Make Resolutions for 2021
You’ll have plenty of time to work on your New Year resolutions. Think about the things you want to achieve and the things you want to leave behind. Try to include such areas as finances, health, career, and self-care, which is very important for everyone. A college student can make such resolutions:
- Apply for a scholarship
- Learn something new
- Come to classes prepared
- Practice gratitude
- Get more involved in social activities and volunteering
- Start a full-time or a part-time job
- Eat healthy food and get more sleep
- Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes
Write down your best memories, thoughts, hopes, and meaningful resolutions for the next year in a journal. You can also share them on social media.
A good idea is to make a list of predictions for the coming year and write them down. They can be serious, sweet, wild, crazy, or silly. You will be able to revisit this list next New Year’s Eve and see if any of them come true.
Have a Family Game Night
You can either play a board game via Zoom or Skype or play online video games and have fun. They will keep you and your video chat guests entertained for a long time. And if you want to make it competitive, you can buy online gift cards for winners.
Consider Other Activities
It is really up to you to do whatever feels best for you. Here are some other quick ideas to ensure you don’t miss out on all the fun:
- Have a pajama party;
- Watch the Ball Drop at Times Square online;
- Watch New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world;
- Find recipes and prepare new perfect cocktails;
- Bake yourself something special;
- Take care of yourself, read a book, or take a walk;
- Watch a live-streamed concert;
- Turn New Year’s Eve into a fondue party;
- Rent a karaoke machine.
As you can see, social distancing does not necessarily mean being cut off from the world. With a little effort, you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year as well!