Alternative Ways to Celebrate the Holiday

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Alternative Ways to Celebrate the Holiday

Balancing your time, energy, mental health, and the need to attend events can sometimes make the holiday season feel stressful or overwhelming. Although challenging for anyone, being a youth in care may add additional stress, making you feel conflicted or confused about how to spend your time.
Here’s a few activities you can do this holiday season to connect with yourself or others:

  • Decorate
    • Decorating your space gives you the opportunity to get creative while bringing in the holiday season.
  • Create holiday arts and crafts
    • Creating holiday arts and crafts is a fun activity you can do on your own or with a friend. You can even decorate your space with whatever you create! Check out the following link for some easy DIY crafts you can create from home (Click each individual picture for details) 25 Easy Christmas Crafts for All Ages - Crazy Little Projects
  • Send/Make holiday cards
    • It can be hard to connect with everyone we care about during the holiday season, but creating or sending holiday cards is a great way to show those you care about that you’re thinking of them.
  • Host a movie night
    • Have a movie night with a friend or solo movie night with all your favorite holiday movies.
  • Hold a virtual event or zoom
    • It can be hard to get out and connect in person during the holidays due to weather, sickness, or varying schedules. Sometimes we may not want to go out at all. But you may still want to keep in touch or hangout with your friends or those you care about. Holding a virtual event via Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype can be an awesome way to catch up with your friends and celebrate.
  • Volunteer
    • Sometimes we want to connect with others but we’re not sure where to start. Volunteering at your local food drive, library, church, or community organizations may be a great place to start. A lot of places hold holiday dinners and are looking for people willing to help serve. Be sure to check your local area for listings.
  • Celebrate the season with your favorite holiday foods
    • Celebrate the season by cooking your favorite meal, dessert, or holiday drink! Something as small as a cup of apple cider or hot chocolate can help  welcome in the season.

There are many youth who choose not to celebrate the holiday season, and that’s completely valid. Here are some ways to connect with yourself or others that don’t involve the holidays:

  • Take advantage of the weather
    • Going out for a walk by yourself or with a friend is not only a great way to connect with yourself but a great way to clear your head and prioritize your wellbeing. You can even take advantage of any winter activities you like, such as ice skating, skiing, or sledding. etc..
  • Reach out to your friends
    •  Reaching out to grab a bite to eat, go to the mall or movies is a great way to connect with others during the fall and winter seasons. Connection doesn’t have to look a certain way. Connect in whatever way you feel most comfortable.

Resources:
Check out the following resource if you’re interested in socially distanced and COVID-19-friendly ways to celebrate. : 31 ways to celebrate the holiday season safely this year | University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Check out the following resource for different DIY crafts you can do during the holidays: 100 Easy Christmas Crafts

About the Author

Katarina, or Kat or Rin for short works in healthcare and advocacy. As a former youth with lived experience, one of her biggest goals is to uplift youth voices within the child welfare system and influence policy to reflect better outcomes for youth in care. Her passions surround everything related to the art of storytelling. She loves acting, singing, writing, and reading in her spare time. She sings, plays the guitar, and plays the piano by ear.