Safe ways to stay connected over the hoildays

Sophomore Alexa Diley gives us COVID friendly ways to stay connected.

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As we all are VERY aware, this year has looked different in every way imaginable, which includes the ways our holidays look. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and winter holidays being right around the corner, everyone is asking; “How do I stay in touch with my family and friends during this time?”. I’ll be the first to admit I’m getting very burnt out with Zoom, but sometimes it feels like it is the only COVID-19 friendly way to communicate with people, so here are some alternatives:

• Write letters/holliday cards to friends and family - this is such a cute, simple, and easy way to let them know that you’re still thinking of them! You can even get cute and cheap blank cards and use stickers to seal the envelope, just make sure you personalize it!

• Order a little something online and have it shipped to their home - everyone loves gifts, especially when it shows up to their home unexpectedly! It really doesn’t have to be anything big at all. It could be a pair of fuzzy socks, a cozy blanket, or even a stuffed animal, just a little something that lets them know that they’re in your thoughts!

• Send tons of pictures! - Although it may seem small, receiving pictures with the text, “Wish you were here! Miss you!”, means the world to someone

• Teleparty - Teleparty is a chrome extension for you to watch movies at the same time as your friend and family! There is a “host” of the teleparty and they send the link to anyone that wants to join! You can also type with your friends in a chat box while you watch! This is a great option for people whose tradition it is to watch a favorite movie together.

• Zoom/Skype/FaceTime/Google Hangouts/etc. - Although I said that I’m getting burnt out of using platforms similar to Zoom, you can honestly never go wrong with them, especially when you’re using them to see friends and family and not for a 8:00 a.m. class

Although this year has been AWFUL to say the least, staying connected with our loved ones has become more important than ever. This makes it extremely important to show our love and appreciation for them in as many ways as possible!