Dear Aspect, I find opening gifts so awkward! Even when I love my gifts, I always feel like I am justifying myself and just find the whole thing so weird!
We feel you on this one! There’s something strange about present-opening at Christmas… the stares, the anticipation. It can sometimes feel like you are sat on a stage with the spotlight burning… not fun and definitely not for everyone. Maybe it is time to try and bury some of those long-grounded traditions! You could suggest that you and whomever is around, open presents at the same time, this makes it slightly less singular. It also means that granny has to divide her eyes in different places to check that you all enjoyed your gift.
Aspect! How can I make this New Years celebration feel special… 2020 has been hard and I want to enjoy the celebrations to the max!
This year was never going down without a fight! I don’t think any of us anticipated that Covid-19 would be clinging on for so long but here we are. It’s unfortunate that we won’t be celebrating amongst the larger variety of our loved ones this year but we have to remember that things could be a lot worse! One of our aspect team spent their 21st Birthday in lockdown this year but still raves that it was the best one yet. You can make the most out of a bad situation! Draw up a menu… you could go classy and have a dinner party or more traditional and opt for sausage rolls, they’re equally good options in our eyes. Then think about your booze, cocktails are the way for New Years (Mocktails if you would rather not). Buy a chalk board and write the options down, get all of your booze/ glasses onto the kitchen counter and form your own bar-from-home. Lastly, crank up the music, I’m sure the neighbours will survive one night of festivities to see this year away! Although these restrictions are annoying, remember that many are in place to protect our loved ones, and distancing is the kindest thing you could do.
Hi Aspect, I find Boxing Day so boring and it is so dull compared to the whole lead up to Christmas. What can I look forward to on Boxing Day?
If you don’t enjoy the traditional boxing day, try something different! You could make roast sandwiches from your leftovers in the afternoon followed by a games night in the evening! Or perhaps if that isn’t your style, what about a zoom with all of your friends… throw it back to the first lockdown and organise a quiz? Drinking games? Murder mystery? Give yourself something to look forward to! Boxing Day is a good time to reflect and cool down after a sometimes overwhelming Christmas. Go easy!