With Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, & the New Year just around the corner, families across the nation and all over the world are trying to figure out how to safely celebrate the upcoming holidays. I hope the following suggestions will help you get the ball rolling when it comes to planning out the tricky details of both traveling and gathering during this global pandemic.
GENERAL ADVICE
- Reference CDC guidelines AS WELL AS your local city & state guidelines. This is an essential step before traveling and/or attending a holiday event since COVID restrictions are changing daily.
- Plan ahead! The sooner you figure things out the better. The holidays are stressful enough when there isn’t a pandemic to think about, but with coronavirus spiking yet again – most are experiencing a heightened level of anxiety when thinking about the upcoming holiday season. So instead of feeding that anxiety, get on top of things and start planning today.
- Talk to your family!!! Picking up the phone, sending out a group email, and/or scheduling a video meeting is the first step to planning the holidays. Once everybody is in touch, start talking about COVID safety protocols. This may be easy for some family units and it may be a challenge for others. Regardless – remember to stay patient, listen to everyone’s opinions, and try to develop a game plan that works for each and every loved one in your inner holiday circle.
- Choose ONE holiday to celebrate as a bigger group instead of them all. This may be difficult for some families, but it may also be the wisest decision in keeping your core circle healthy. Fewer events = Less stress, less planning, and the less likely you and your loved ones could pass a virus or catch a virus. So my advice is to pick the one holiday that your family cherishes the most and work hard to make that party safe and fun for all. And please remember to keep your group holiday celebration SMALL. Check your state guidelines for current recommendations.
- Don’t be afraid to cancel. If you and your immediate family are uncomfortable traveling and/or gathering in slightly larger groups this holiday season – that is completely fine. Be proud and confident in your decision! And if COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to rise these next few weeks, I truly think that celebrating with your direct household may be the safest option this year. The holidays don’t require a big soiree. Plus, there is always FaceTime, Zoom, and Skype to help everyone celebrate together.
HEALTH & SAFETY TIPS
- First and Foremost – Stay home if you are feeling sick!!! This is a common sense, courteous act that I urge everyone to abide by this holiday season. Your personal health and the health of your loved ones should always remain top priority.
- Mask Wearing – Let’s be honest. Mask wearing amongst a small group of family & friends is easier said than done for most regardless of politics and personal opinions. My advice is to of course, wear your mask unless you are eating or drinking. However, it seems that masks start on the face and slowly end up off even amongst the strictest of COVID-rule following folk. If your inner holiday circle is comfortable not wearing masks, cool. To each their own. However, if anyone in your inner holiday circle requests masks – it is my sincere belief that the group should respect the opinions of that loved one and keep their masks on unless adequately socially distanced. I find it best to avoid drama and lead with love and compassion for other people’s feelings especially when it comes to their personal health and safety. If mask wearing becomes a point of contention maybe have the host decide what protocols will be followed since it is their home. And if someone is unhappy with the decision, they can always choose to not attend. It can be a tricky thing to navigate so just talk to your circle and figure out a game plan well in advance.
- Social Distancing – If you are hosting a holiday party, I suggest celebrating outside if you have a big enough yard and if weather permits. Significantly spread out tables and/or chairs to assist in social distancing. Have each household sit at the same table or a specific section of a larger table for added safety. Consider skipping the buffet if that’s the norm in your house. Have a family-style meal set up on each table, or simply have one or two family members plate up everyone’s food.
- Self-Quarantining – Plan ahead before you choose to self-quarantine. An isolation period of 10-14 days seems to be best. Do all of your grocery shopping, gift buying, and other necessary errands the day before you decide to quarantine. Also, don’t forget to fill your gas tank the day before as well if you will be driving to your holiday get together. By planning ahead of time, you’re setting yourself up for a very successful quarantine whether you are hosting the party or traveling to the festivities.
- COVID Testing – If the idea of wearing a mask & socially distancing during a long family gathering sounds too difficult, consider getting tested prior to attending or hosting a holiday party. Taking a COVID-19 test in lieu of constant mask wearing is only effective if 1. The entire guest list agrees to get tested 2. The entire guest list self-quarantines immediately afterward 3. The entire guest list tests negative 4. The entire guest list agrees to ONLY make essential stops during longer commutes (ie: the gas station).
>> If you work on site and cannot self-quarantine for an extended period of time, consider requesting 1-3 days off prior to your holiday gathering so you can get tested and quarantine 24-48 hours prior to the party.
>> If your community does not offer coronavirus testing OR your local testing sites are going to be closed on the days prior to your holiday party, consider purchasing an at-home test. Diane Li of GoodRx published an excellent article on October 1st detailing the ins and outs of all the current FDA approved tests on the market. These at-home COVID tests are a bit pricey but seem like a great option for those unable to access a testing center and/or self-quarantine for an appropriate amount of time prior to attending a party.
>> REMEMBER: There is absolutely no point in quarantining or testing negative for COVID before visiting your loved ones IF you decide to go grocery shopping or start running errands anytime after taking these added safety precautions.
- Single Day Visits – Remember to wear your mask when you are not eating or drinking. Remember to socially distance as much as possible. **If you have ALL self-quarantined for 10-14 days and/or received a negative COVID test result immediately prior to the get together, took proper precautions before gathering, and trust that everyone at the party has done the same – you can all mingle a bit more freely.
- Multiple Night Visits – Wearing a mask for multiple hours over the span of a few days does not seem ideal or practical. If you will be visiting a loved one for more than one night, I highly recommend that everyone hosting and attending the holiday celebration do the following: Self-quarantine for 10-14 days and/or receive a negative COVID test result immediately prior to gathering. Purchase all necessary groceries and gifts prior to your quarantine and/or testing. Refrain from grocery shopping, dining out, or other public activities once you have arrived at your destination. Continue to frequently wash your hands, socially distance, and wear your mask when going on walks or visiting the gas station.
***My personal recommendation is to take a COVID Test and/or Self-Quarantine prior to attending and/or hosting any type of holiday gathering this year – single day or multiple night. And even after testing negative, you should still try to wear your mask and practice social distancing amongst your family & friends while celebrating, especially if one or more guests has traveled from out of town.
SUGGESTIONS FOR DRIVING
- Filling Gas – Pull up to a quiet pump away from other travelers. Wear your mask at all times and practice social distancing once outside of your vehicle. Sanitize your hands immediately after filling your tank and don’t remove your mask until your hands are clean. If you want to be extra cautious and avoid the drying out effect of sanitizer, invest in a box of disposable gloves. Gloves provide so much peace of mind when handling the pumps at busy gas stations.
- Getting Food – Pack as much food as possible so you don’t need to stop for meals. If you need to stop for meals – stick to the drive-thru, wear your mask at the windows, and sanitize your hands before eating.
- Bathroom Breaks – Try to choose a quiet rest stop with clean bathrooms. There are plenty of websites and apps that list and rate rest areas along major interstates and highways. If you’re uncomfortable going to a public rest stop then just safely pull over to the side of the road and handle your business in a discreet manner – #1 only of course!
- Essentials – For a long road trip remember to pack a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, face masks, plenty of water, and plenty of snacks.
- Overnighting – Unless you have a camper, I suggest staying at a private rental home as opposed to a hotel so you can avoid coming into contact with anyone during your road trip.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FLYING
My personal opinion is to avoid going to the airport and boarding a crowded plane especially when I have heard from more than one close friend that their temperatures were never taken at the airports they traveled through during this pandemic. So if you lean towards the idea of “better to be safe than sorry” – it seems wise to skip air travel altogether this holiday season due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
- However if you’re fine with flying and NOBODY in your inner holiday circle is uncomfortable or frightened by the idea of you getting on a plane, then go for it. Take the proper precautions, and have a safe flight my friend.
- If you or ANYONE in your inner holiday circle is uncomfortable or frightened by the idea of you flying, consider driving to your destination instead to avoid any potential drama, stress, or concern by loved ones.
If flying is the only feasible option due to sheer distance, inclement weather, your work schedule, or lack of a reliable vehicle I highly recommend consistently wearing your mask and socially distancing yourself when around loved ones. However, if your budget and time allows you can always…
- Fly in early. Visit a COVID testing center or mail in an at-home test. Self-quarantine at your loved one’s place if they have an accessory dwelling unit OR a completely private area of their home until you receive a negative test result.
- Fly in early. Check into a private rental home or an equally safe hotel. Purchase whatever food you will need for the next few days, mail out an at-home COVID test or drive to a testing center if you rented a car upon landing. Immediately quarantine until you receive your test results. Upon receiving a negative test result, drive to your destination or have someone from your inner holiday circle pick you up.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
My best advice for staying healthy during this pandemic and life in general is by caring deeply about your immune system. A well balanced diet full of fresh produce, regular exercise, adequate sleep, plenty of water, minimal sugar, and low stress environments are so vital to our overall health. On days that I travel, I like to take a multivitamin for an added immunity boost just in case my body is lacking any essential vitamins and minerals that aid in fighting off infection.
Please remember that all of the above are just my OPINIONS & SUGGESTIONS. I know that some of my advice may seem extreme to certain readers and not strict enough to others. My personal travel tips & advice on gathering in groups definitely errs on the side of caution and favors the health and wellbeing of the entire party. However, my opinions are just that – opinions. At the end of the day, we are all adults and solely responsible for whatever decisions we choose to make. All I ask is that you keep the lines of communication open with your inner holiday circle, remain transparent, stay home if you are sick, and do what works best for you, your immediate family, & those you choose to celebrate the joys of the season with.
Wishing you all SAFE TRAVELS, THE VERY BEST OF HEALTH, & THE HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS!
HOMEMADE IN LA 