2020 has been a doozy, can we all agree? So much of this year was completely unexpected, and it seems like things continue to take strange twists and turns. It’s frustrating – we get it. But if there’s one thing that most of us are looking forward to, it’s the holidays. A chance to kick back and relax with family, catch up, and enjoy the festivities.

And while we would all love to celebrate our holidays as usual, the way things used to be, there’s no denying that this year will (and should) look at least a little bit different for us all. If you’re planning on hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year, here are some things you should keep in mind as we are still going through the pandemic:

Sanitize Everything

When in doubt, sanitize. Not only is it courteous, but it’s also safe to make sure your entire house (or at least all rooms that guests will be in) have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Do some research to find what sanitizers are best for combating COVID and other germs depending on the surfaces in your home and where people will be congregating.

It’s also a great idea to keep a bottle or two of hand sanitizer at the entrance to your home and at the kitchen table(s). It encourages people to keep their hands sanitized and lowers the risk of spreading anything to each other over Thanksgiving!

Specify Your Expectations Ahead of Time

Are you very COVID conscious? Will you be encouraging social distancing? Do you want everyone to wear a mask or not? These are things that need to be specified ahead of time. Even if it’s your own family, you just never know where people are truly at. It’s smart to play it safe and thoroughly communicate what you are planning for the day.

So many people avoid social gatherings simply because they don’t know where others stand with COVID procedures. They don’t want to show up and be the only one with a mask.

Maybe reach out to people individually to gauge their interest and how they feel about COVID procedures and then send a group text out with the plans.

Have Fun!

The year may look different, but don’t let precautions keep you all from enjoying yourselves. If your family decides to entirely or partially go virtual for the year, find a time to connect and hang out over video chat if necessary. Make people feel included but safe, and always ensure that you understand everyone’s social boundaries in regards to the pandemic.