From virtual weddings, baby showers, book launches, parties to virtual work calls, everything is now happening online. I have also seen people join both together—virtual and in person hangouts or parties. So there is no fear of missing out, joining the party can be one click away!
If you're far away from your loved ones this holiday season, seeing them virtually won't necessarily bring you the same experience as if you were there in person, but you can still share the moment through that connection.
Tips and ideas to plan for holiday virtual hangouts
- Plan for technical glitches, it's a tip that will always come handy. You must check your internet connection because it is the primary thing that can keep your online party going. Also, check supporting devices like speakers, earphones, and microphones.
- Send an invite. Just as you would do for a normal party or get together, creating invites and sending them out through email and various platforms will make it feel real. You can also send the link to the hangout in the invite so you don't get messages last minute to ask for the login link. Sometimes people like to add a dress code, theme or menu too!
- Play some fun games and engage in some singing so that everyone is entertained and nobody feels the distance.
- Consider your space. You might not need to mop the floor and set the table, but there are still things you should consider. Such as good lighting and audio; nothing professional, just positioning your camera in a well lit area far from glares and shadows and using an external microphone, can make a huge difference. You might also want to get creative and decorate your background for a cozy holiday filled ambiance! Set up next to the fireplace or the christmas tree for example!
- Cook together. If you can't be with your favorite cooking partner this year, why not cook together virtually! To me the holidays are all about memories and traditions in the kitchen baking christmas cookies and other festive recipes with my loved ones! So maybe doing a private call with that one person earlier in the day before the party can make you both happy.
- Share family recipes. Prior to the meetup, have everyone add their favorite festive recipe to an online folder that can be later shared to the group as a collective gift to one another. It's the perfect opportunity for you to learn how to make all of your family's holiday classics!
- Send care packages to your loved ones! There are always new ways we can consider if we can't meet in person to show our affection and appreciation. A personalized care package sent to those we cherish can come as a delightful surprise. Some ideas of what you could include in the packages:
- Printed family pictures
- Homemade crafts
- Cocoa mix
- Host favors
- Essential oils and diffuser
- Bath salts or bath bombs
- Books and puzzles
- Baked goods
- Sing and dance. Especially if you have younger children, this is a fun way to let loose, laugh and connect. Create your own little dance or karaoke party. There are even virtual dance classes that are so fun to do! I remember joining my friend at the beginning of 2020 in those kinds of virtual dance parties. Dancing and moving the body has a way of releasing tension and putting everyone more at ease.
- An ice breaking idea for a virtual Holiday party: Share a hilarious Christmas memory. Give everyone a few minutes to think of and write down something hilarious that's happened to them during past holidays. If it's embarrassing, you can easily make it anonymous!
- Have a holiday playlist. Virtual or not, no holiday party is complete without carols. To put your group into the Christmas spirit, you can curate an upbeat holiday playlist. The whole team can join in on the fun by adding songs to a playlist on a platform.
- Include the kids in a crafty activity. Children love holiday crafts— you can have them join in with the adults in making craft ornaments that lend a sense of continuity to your individual trees. Ornament-making is a fun holiday activity that can easily carry over to virtual Christmas parties. While on the call, the attendees can design and decorate ornaments together by following a lesson video or a previously sent template or design.
- Take your eyes off the screen every once in a while. It gets easy being there staring at our phones and tablets, and not seeing time pass, especially when we're celebrating with loved ones. When doing so, we tend to forget to blink and that's when our eyes get dry and itchy. To prevent that, simply take your gaze off the screen every now and then, stare in the distance for 20 seconds before coming back to the screen. Having natural and soothing eye drops can also help. Like A.Vogel's eye drops, they're so easy to use and very effective.
- Enjoy and have fun! Tis the season to be jolly and live in the moment. Once your party has started, don't worry about the details, just enjoy it. The lights, the music, the people, to drink and the food. You might indulge in that beautiful holiday food spread. And that's ok. If you don't want to feel too bloated or sluggish the next day, make sure you drink enough water and you can take 2 tabs of the Digestive Aid Complex before bed by A.Vogel—it works!
Finally, keep things light and casual by focusing on sharing stories of past holidays, reflecting on what you're thankful for and enjoying delicious food in one another's company.
May your holiday celebrations be merry, whether they be in person or virtually!
