Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many of us are feeling super down about how we can have a proper Thanksgiving celebration in the midst of a pandemic.
If you’re not game for having your usual house full of hungry family and friends, you should check out this quick list of the best tips I’ve come across online to have a safe, fun, and ‘socially distant’ holiday.
- Stay in one place. For many, Thanksgiving involves going from one house to another so that you can see as many people as possible. Having one dinner is not only less stressful from a logistical standpoint, but it can help prevent your family from getting sick.
- Simplify your menu. I know, I know. I can hear you laughing all the way from my office – but hear me out. Making dinner doesn’t have to be a ton of work! Stick with 1-2 meat choices (turkey or ham), 3-4 sides (mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and a vegetable), and 1-2 desserts (pumpkin pie, and maybe some cookies or bars). Remember, there’s always next year to get fancy.
Bonus tip: Save yourself even more work by having a local bakery make your dessert for you. Local businesses are hurting and would love your support.
- Host Thanksgiving outside. This is a luxury that many people don’t have, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a warm climate, take advantage of it! You can create a truly memorable and beautiful meal – check out Google or Pinterest for some lovely decor ideas.
- Prearrange your seating. The recommendation is for people to stay 6 feet apart, or wear a mask. By planning ahead, you can create a seating plan that will encourage everyone to comply with this rule. Another plus? You won’t be stuck sitting elbow to elbow with anyone. #winning
You can also create really fun placeholder cards to add to your decor scheme.
- Make wearing a mask fun. Let’s face it. No one actually wants to wear a mask, even the most hypervigilant of us. They’re claustrophobic and can ruin an outfit faster than pairing yellow plaid and purple polka dots! Make it bearable by giving a fun themed mask to your guests, or having a friendly competition. Give a prize to the person who wears their mask the most – or who has the most fun/creative one.
- Sanitizing stations. This one’s pretty obvious. Have sanitizing stations in high traffic areas and encourage people to use them by making a game of it.
- The Nuclear Option – Testing. Want to enjoy a traditional dinner without all the fuss? Require your guests to get a COVID test in the week before your dinner. Then you don’t have to take precautions (but it’s still recommended).
You don’t want to be a statistic – one of those stories you read about in the news where a whole family contracts COVID-19 because they had a party and weren’t careful. By taking a few simple precautions, you can do your part to stop the spread over the holidays.
We believe in doing our part to make your retirement as rock solid as possible. Give us a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or go online and book a quick chat with us today!
Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®
