10 Santa Approved Activities That Will Make Your 2020 Holiday Season Suck Less

2020 has been quite the doozy. Due to the global pandemic, we’ve been forced to adapt to working from home, wearing masks on the daily, and so much more. Thankfully, I’ve curated a list of 10 festive ways to make your holiday season suck less than the rest of 2020.

1. MAKE HOLIDAY-THEMED TIK TOKS

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Let’s admit it: TikTok saved 2020. While we were stuck at home, it became a creative outlet for many people, and for some, it became their favorite form of entertainment. As mandatory lockdowns continue to take place, holiday TikToks will be all the rage. Start with a Christmas countdown, dress your dog up for the holidays and try to get your family members involved. Get creative and have fun!

2. START LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC … LIKE RIGHT NOW.

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Only losers say it's too early to start listening to Christmas music. Christmas music brings so much joy to the holiday season, adding a glimmer of hope for what’s to come. Why not start it off by dropping it low to Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe?”

3. DECORATE ASAP

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Why wait? Just like how music enhances the joy of Christmas, holiday decor does too. Have a competition with your neighbors, and make your house the brightest on the block. Go overboard! You’ll be stuck at home anyway, so you might as well make the most of it.

4. HOLIDAY GAME NIGHTS

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For the month of December, pick a day of the week to have family game nights. For example, every Sunday night, gather the family to play a holiday-themed game. Feel free to let each member of the family have an opportunity to pick a game of their choice. Let loose and have fun!

5. CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON

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There’s nothing better than a Christmas movie marathon. Choose at least one night this month to soak in all of the holiday movie classics. Personally, my top 4 favorite movies are: Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Holiday, and Love Actually.

6. ADVENT CALENDAR GIFT EXCHANGE

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If 2020 has proved anything, it’s that we should cherish every day we’re given. So, instead of waiting until Christmas Day to open presents, why not exchange one gift every day of December leading up to the main event? I recommend buying 24 gifts of lesser value, such as fuzzy holiday-themed socks, and one gift of greater value to build up to. It’s a fun and exciting way to get into the holiday spirit.

7. START A NEW TRADITION

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Whether it's buying matching pajamas for Christmas Eve night or wearing ugly Christmas sweaters around the house, starting new holiday traditions can add a new level of excitement to the holiday season. A couple of my favorite holiday traditions include driving around in search of Christmas lights and gifting unique ornaments to my family. The latter is most enjoyable because by the time all of the kids move out of the house, they may have collected enough ornaments to decorate their own Christmas trees!

8. HOLIDAY COOKIE CHALLENGE

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This is a serious tradition in my household that is not to be messed with. Every year on Christmas Day, my family comes over and we host a holiday cookie decorating challenge. It’s the most fun and entertaining part of the event, the competitive nature palpable. We decorate around 5 cookies each, one of every shape (candy cane, stocking, star, Christmas tree, and ornament), then choose the best of each shape to enter the final round. Once these selections are made, everyone votes for the best cookie overall. The winner gets a small prize, but the bragging rights far outweigh the gift.

9. VISIT A (SOCIALLY DISTANT) HOLIDAY ATTRACTION NEAR YOU

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After living in the Chicagoland area for all my 22 years of life, I have never visited the Home Alone house… not once! It’s a disgrace, I tell you. This December, my family and I have vowed to drive to the Home Alone house to see it decorated in all its Christmas glory. We’ll be bringing along to-go cups of hot cocoa and wearing our coziest Christmas PJs for the ride! It’s a fun and safe way to get into the Christmas spirit. A less location-specific recommendation would be attending drive-through light shows. They’re just as fun and possibly even more beautiful!

10. FUN HOLIDAY-THEMED MASKS

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This Halloween, we watched as people all around the world found creative ways to celebrate the holiday. One of the easiest ways to do so in 2020 is to decorate your own holiday-themed masks to wear whenever you leave the house. Pull up to the grocery store with a red and green mask covered in all the tinsel and glitter you can find. Make it a competition with your friends to create the tackiest holiday-themed mask. Tacky masks are the new ugly Christmas sweaters after all!

Overall, 2020 has been a difficult year, but there’s no reason why we can’t create the joy we’re searching for. Spending time and creating memories with family and friends is the most important gift, and 2020 has assured us of that. I hope this list inspires you to bring the holiday spirit into your home this season.