How to Covid/Omicron proof your Christmas and New Year 2022

NEW YORK - Dec. 19, 2021 - PRLog -- So here we are again. Out are the plans to dust off your dancing shoes at the Christmas party, and in is the stockpiling of toilet rolls and boxes of chocolates for the long nights ahead.

Eat, drink and be merry
Jo Elgarf, an urban prepper who could frankly be forgiven for being a bit smug right now, suggests putting a pack of chicken or veggie alternative in the freezer with some frozen brussels sprouts and roasties, just in case. And buying chocolate: "If the worst comes to the worst, and you just sit there for the whole day eating a tin of Roses, is that really such a bad thing?"

He adds: "Plan your Christmas Day meal around the idea of filling the fridge with nice things for days to come. And stock up on nibbles. If your house does not contain cheese-flavoured pastry Christmas trees and Twiglets, it's not even Christmas."

'Tis the season for self-care
Christmas, even in a good year, can be a time of heightened stress, loneliness and struggle for many people. Prof Vivian Hill, a chartered psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society, suggests enjoying an isolated Christmas free of the myths of what Christmas "should be".

"Have a think about what the authentic characteristics of a really good Christmas are to you, and try and plan how you could recreate them if you have to stay at home," she says. "Doing something special for yourself and for the people you're closest to is really key."

Schedule your family fallouts
For many people, Christmas is all about eating too much with family and friends. If that is impossible, perhaps open presents together via Zoom in the morning, keep the camera on during lunch and schedule a half-cut argument with your sibling at around 5pm.

To temper your sadness, console yourself with the thought that you are doing the Right Thing, says Hill. "Maybe your gift to your friends and family is recognising you're a risk and staying away."

The gifts you could stop giving
Have you bought all your presents yet? If not, don't panic, and don't immediately turn to Amazon, says Tim Lane of Ethical Consumer. "There's loads of online ethical retailers that are great options for last-minute presents," he says. "Or just buy less. If you want to consume ethically, cut down your consumption and maybe organise a secret Santa with your family as an alternative."

For top organisational points you could wrap and exchange gifts on your doorstep with family members who live close enough now, just in case.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bFaTMMd0nA