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Decorate your own Christmas sweater -

Whether you’re an expert embroiderer or not, this can be a fun activity. Take a plain sweater, possibly something you already have at home or find in a secondhand store, and source some materials for decorations.

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Decorate your own Christmas sweater -

Most arts and crafts stores will have things like multi-colored pom poms, felt, and gold beads. If you’re trying to make do with that you’ve got at home, you can cut fabric shapes out of old clothes and sew a patchwork Christmas tree onto your sweater!

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Decorate your own stocking -

You can take a similar approach to decorating your own Christmas stocking. Get a plain stocking and go to town with whatever decorations you have.

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Decorate your own mask? -

If it’s not too on the nose, you could also decorate a special Christmas face mask...

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Decorate your home -

Most of us will be spending a lot more time at home this winter. Creating a cozy and comforting environment for yourself is definitely worthwhile, and doesn’t need to be expensive.

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Make homemade decorations -

Making your own Christmas decorations is another fun way to keep busy and get in the festive spirit at home. There are tons of easy how-to guides online. You’ll find everything from mini cinnamon stick Christmas trees to 3D paper snowmen.

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Make it a family activity - You could do this with kids, or make a plan with friends or family to make decorations for each other and swap them via mail.

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Try a new dish -

Many of us are very stuck in our food traditions around the holidays. While no one is saying that you shouldn’t have your usual feast, why not try adding a new side dish you haven’t prepared before?

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Try a new Christmas breakfast -

You could even try preparing a new Christmas day breakfast that can be made in advance! For example, some luxurious blueberry cinnamon rolls.

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Decorate cookies -

Decorating Christmas cookies ticks all the boxes. It’s fun, it’s creative, it’s great to do alone or with family, and it’ll fill your home with delicious smells on a winter’s evening.

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Make a special hot chocolate - Get creative with a comforting drink. A classic hot chocolate is great, but why not push the limits? It’s the holidays after all! There are loads of delicious variations online like gingerbread hot chocolate. You can even make it grown-up with a shot of rum or Baileys.

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Make a Christmas cocktail - To make it really grown-up, skip the hot chocolate altogether. There are plenty of interesting Christmas cocktails to try. A mulled wine or cider is a great warming treat.

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Settle down with a Christmas movie or book -

Once you’ve got your decorations set up and a festive drink in your hand, you can curl up on the couch to read a book or watch a movie. Throw on a holiday classic like ‘Die Hard,’ or get lost in the pages of an old Agatha Christie novel like 'The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding.’

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Get the fire going -

Christmas is the best time to make use of your fireplace. If you don’t have one, a good trick is to put a YouTube video of a crackling fire on the TV and get cozy with a book! The comforting background noise and gentle flicker of light creates a nice relaxing atmosphere.

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Get outside - It may be difficult to see family and friends indoors this year, but there are plenty of ways to connect with loved ones outdoors.

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Take a festive stroll with a friend -

Try meeting a friend to go for a walk. You can grab a hot chocolate to take away and take yourselves on a tour of the Christmas lights! If festive cheer is a bit lacking in your area then you can turn it into  Christmas light hunt...

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Decorate the outdoors - If you have an outdoor space like a garden or a balcony, this is the year to decorate it! Many people will be happy for the extra bit of Christmas cheer as they walk past. It’s also a fun outdoor activity you can do safely.

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Try some winter sports - Depending on your location, you may be able to take advantage of snowy weather and get outside for some winter sports like sledding or ice skating.

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An unconventional picnic -

If you live in a slightly warmer climate and local regulations allow it, a Christmas picnic is a great safe way to connect with loved ones. If anyone has a kitchen torch, you can get some safely roasted marshmallows on the go.

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Virtual Santa visit -

As for online activities, even Santa Claus has adapted to the pandemic and is now doing virtual visits! If you’ve got kids, there are several online services that provide video calls with Santa.

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Online Secret Santa -

If you still want to do gift exchanges with friends and family you won’t be able to see in person, it’s not too difficult! For Secret Santa, each participant can provide their address. Use an online tool to randomly assign matches, and you can each order a gift online to be delivered directly to the recipient.

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Online Secret Santa -

Gift opening can be done on Zoom accompanied by drinks and terrible Christmas jumpers! If you prefer to go for a more personal gift, try to get something on Etsy. It's sure to be unique and you'll be supporting a small artist.

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A Christmas quiz -

Remember when Zoom quizzes were a thing and then everyone got sick of them? Well, perhaps it’s time for a Renaissance. A funny Christmas-themed quiz is a great way to get friends together and laughing during the holidays.

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A Christmas quiz -

There are plenty of lists online to help you come up with the questions, but the personal ones are always the best. For example, take a deep dive into your friend’s social media accounts and play 'guess who posted this status 10 years ago.'

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Do something kind -

Many of us have discovered the joy in community and helping others over the past couple of years. There’s no better time than Christmas to make that extra effort, and you’ll definitely benefit from the good vibes too. Perhaps you could make some Christmas cookies and deliver them to your neighbors or the nurses at your local hospital.

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A personalized activity advent calendar -

If you’re dedicated to having the most fun and festive December in history, try making a personalized advent calendar with one Christmas activity from this list to do every day! And a chocolate, of course.

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Happy holidays! -

Don’t forget that things that go wrong often make the best memories. This has been the year that went wrong and it will probably be a strange Christmas, but let’s make the best of this exceptional holiday season!

Sources: (Good Housekeeping) (Real Simple)

See also: DIY Christmas presents that everyone will love.

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