5 Tips for Preparing for the 2020 Holiday Season

No matter what you celebrate, it’s going to look a lot different in 2020 than it has in previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic is throwing a wrench in all of our plans, making it challenging to continue some of our most cherished traditions. We’ve already had to make changes to spring break, Easter, summer, Fourth of July, and Halloween. For a lot of us, the thought of having another type of winter holiday season can be emotionally draining.

We understand that change is difficult, especially during the time of the year that is supposed to bring the most joy. You’ve already been through a lot this year, from managing childcare and the new school year to completely altering your work schedule, and we want to help you make this season as magical as possible.

The holidays are a big deal for our @Ease family. We love that our childcare and home estate providers help families ease the stress of planning for the holidays. We enjoy hearing stories about how families have gathered together to celebrate the season and ring in a new year. That’s why we want to help all of our families and providers get ready for this holiday season.

With that, here are five tips that can help you prepare for the 2020 holiday season.

1. Accept What You Can’t Change

Everyone’s favorite gift is money! A bonus would be a good way to surprise your nanny with a gift for all their hard work!
Maybe you could even present it with a hand-made thank you card from your kids!

Another idea? Have your kids make a thank you craft for their nanny! This is a simple and sweet way to show gratitude! Use
fingerprints to make a heart, have your children sign it, and then add the date. Pop it in a photo frame and present it to your
nanny!

Gift cards are always appreciated! Buy one for their favorite restaurant, online store or most visited coffee spot. Place it in a
lovely card and leave it in an easy place for them to find!

Why not give your nanny a day off with pay? You could present them with a certificate to a local spa, their favorite nail
place or the hair salon they frequent. Let them spend the day pampering themselves as a thank you for all their hard work.

Plan a cookout in secret, and then invite your nanny without letting her know she is the guest of honor! Make her favorite
dishes or dessert, and have your kids sing her a silly made-up song about how much they appreciate her!

Take your nanny’s name, and have your child list a positive quality for each letter. Use your computer to type it up nicely,
get your child to sign it and place it in a frame. When your nanny has had a hard day looking at all her positive qualities will
help improve her mood and make her feel loved!

Does your nanny have a favorite chocolate bar? Make her a basket of chocolate using wooden skewers and her favorite
treats! Place it in her room or on a counter for her to easily find!

Spend an afternoon with your kids making your nanny their favorite homemade cookies. Get a lovely tin or box, and wrap
the cookies in tissue paper. Buy her a nice latte or her favorite coffee drink to have with them for a special afternoon treat!

Have a large bouquet of flowers delivered to her during working hours. Not only will it be a welcome surprise, but their
smile is sure to outshine the sun!

The first step to having a wonderful holiday season is to take time to acknowledge and accept what is out of your control. You may not be able to honor many traditions this year because of public health restrictions and concerns. 

It’s normal to feel sadness and even grief when you consider the traditions you won’t be able to keep. However, knowledge is power. 

Take some time to go through your list of traditions to figure out what you can and can’t do this year because of COVID-19. From there, you can make a plan for creating new traditions or finding ways to improvise on old ones. You’ll have more control over your holiday and won’t end up feeling frantic and overwhelmed at the last minute.

2. Look into Alternative Arrangements

Perhaps you have realized that you cannot safely fit your entire family into your home and still stick with COVID guidelines. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t all get together! Consider looking into renting halls or other spaces that can fit your family and friends while still allowing distance and space.

If you have family members who cannot travel due to COVID, you can still find ways to connect and be together. Spend time now getting your relatives (especially your aging ones) familiar with teleconferencing. Apps like Zoom or Facetime are free and relatively easy to use. Make some practice calls now so that you can all be together during the holiday season. You can still bake together, have dinner together, open presents together, and share a toast together, even if it’s over a screen.

3. Fill Your Home with Magic

Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, they still love the magic that fills your home during the holiday season. Just because things look different this year doesn’t mean you can’t have a magical holiday season. If you usually put up Christmas trees, keep doing it! Add holiday lights and your other usual decorations. 

No matter what type of year you have had, putting on some festive music and reminiscing about seasons past and the future to come is sure to help your family feel happier.

4. Plan Ahead for Shopping

We often spend much of the holiday season shopping for gifts for our loved ones. This year, embrace the wonder of online shopping. From getting presents for everyone on your list to ordering groceries that can be delivered to your doorstep, there’s no limit to how much you can accomplish online! 

Make sure to plan ahead of time. Even websites that claim to offer two-day shipping often end up with delayed deliveries, especially if a winter storm hits right before the holiday. This year, online retailers are expecting online sales to skyrocket. 

If you just can’t let go of in-person shopping, many stores are offering reservations so that you can peruse their in-store offerings without a crowd. Call your favorite retailers to see what their policies are. These will likely book up fast, so call early!

5. Simplify Your Life

The less you need to stress out about this holiday season, the better! Hire a professional chef to cater your holiday dinner and a housekeeper to get your house completely ready. A chauffeur can get you and your family where you need to be, so you don’t have to worry about driving in bad weather or spending your time focused on the road instead of having wonderful conversations. 

The less you have to worry about this holiday season, the better! You deserve a break and for this holiday season to be as wonderful as it can possibly be.

Bonus Tip: Let Us Help You Make This Season Merry and Bright!

If you need some help getting your house ready for the holiday season, we can help! @Ease Solutions now offers many household staffing options, including housekeepers, chefs, head housekeeper, groundskeeper, security, and more. Check out our new website to learn more about these exciting options and to get started finding the right household staff for your family!