Social life is paused, and the Advent season has seldom been as calm and uneventful as it is now in the corona pandemic. Many of us struggle with being alone and lonely in the pre-Christmas period. 24 suggestions on how you can give others a little – or big – joy now.
The partial lockdown continues into the new year, the contact restrictions are strict. There should be some easing on the Christmas days – but Christmas this year will definitely look different than in the years before. Without Christmas celebrations with colleagues, without a mulled wine at the Christmas market, without cookies with good friends: inside on Advent Sundays. That’s sad. And quite lonely for many.
If some people have coped with social life in standby mode quite well, he or she is now experiencing that loneliness and isolation are particularly difficult to cope with at Christmas time.
Loneliness affects a lot of people
Those who live together with others, as a family or flat share, may even experience the “stade” Christmas season 2020 as an opportunity: It’s rarely boring here, and without the many Christmas parties, performances and meetings there is more time for cozy hours at home, where people cook and bake , can be played and tinkered with. But for those who live alone – whether young or old – the Christmas season is a challenge this year. Many people are threatened with isolation and loneliness.
Even small gestures and attentions can bring great joy. We have collected ideas on how you can make friends, relatives, neighbors and even completely strangers happy. If you have an idea yourself, feel free to post it in the comments.
Loneliness: Here’s How You Can Help
It is not only older people who feel lonely who have few social contacts, but also those who have to be particularly careful due to a previous illness. For singles, the corona time with its contact restrictions is a special burden. But also people in whose flat there is an argument or who do not feel understood by their partner feel lonely and alone. They all appreciate nice gestures from dear people.
Our tips have a pleasant side effect: They ensure a win-win situation. Because when we do good to others, it makes us happy.
1. Get some fresh air together: Be attentive and think about who in your neighborhood, in your circle of acquaintances and friends, and in the family might feel lonely and alone right now. If you like to walk go: think about who you could encourage to accompany you. As a surprise, pack hot tea in the thermos bottle and a few cookies, then the Christmas spirit is guaranteed.
Note: Two households with a maximum of five people are allowed to travel together, the risk of infection in the fresh air is considered to be low.
2. Conversations are good: Call someone you’ve wanted to get back to in a long time. And over the good old phone, not over Skype, Zoom or Whereby. This is often more relaxed because you don’t keep checking that the hairstyle is right and that the light is right. Important: listen carefully and ask questions.
3. A smile works wonders: A small gesture that is practiced far too seldom: smile friendly and greet people who come towards you. For some you can make a day easier with a simple smile.
4. Greetings by post: If there is something handwritten among all the bills and mailings, the joy is great. It doesn’t always have to be a long, handwritten letter, a postcard greeting is a nice sign that someone is thinking of you.
5. Games such as Tabu or Stadt Land Fluss can also be played online.
6. Small help, big effect: During the first wave of the corona, the neighborhood was very helpful, now it is time to revive it: Take care of the elderly in the neighborhood to do their shopping, go to the bakery or to the pharmacy. Either ring the doorbell (but then take a few steps back), call or hang up a note in the apartment building with your offer. For many, the opportunity to talk for a few minutes is often more helpful than the actual offer.
7. Christmas wish fulfillment: With our traditional Christmas campaign on Techzle.com are allowed to post all Christmas wishes – and of course also fulfill them.
8. Pictures are a nice journey into the past: A small photo album with memories of joint activities will delight friends: inside, parents or the sponsored child who is currently in quarantine, guaranteed.
9. Bring people together: Platforms like Nebenan.de, together gegencorona.de, quarantaenehelden.org, coronaport.net or help-now.de specialize in bringing people together.
10. Helping strangers: Bring a croissant and coffee to the homeless man you keep bumping into town and talk to him for a while.
11. Corona Care Package: A package with home-baked cookies, a game that you can also play alone (e.g. Gravity Maze, The Negotiator or Friday) or a book can be packed quickly – and makes the recipient very happy.
12. Compliments make you happy: Give the people you meet on the way to the garbage can, on the walk at the walk or in the queue at the bakery, a very spontaneous compliment.
13. Social commitment: If you have time to spare, ask neighborhood help, the blackboard, or other social organization where you can help and get involved. They have all had problems finding enough volunteers since the beginning of the corona crisis. Here you can find out why volunteering is good for you.
14. Tell about yourself: Tell others about your very personal worries and thoughts and then ask the other person how he or she is doing. This often makes it easier to talk about problems like loneliness and fear of the future.
15. Game of Christ Child. In almost all cities and many communities there are “Wunschbaum” campaigns that help children and young people in need fulfill their wishes. A quick internet search will help you find one in your area.
16. Cooking and eating together is currently difficult to implement, but also works via Skype or Zoom. For a virtual cooking date you just have to agree on a recipe and an appointment beforehand and buy all the ingredients.
17. Help for inmates: How about a little Christmas present for people who are in jail for Christmas? The “Charity liberates” initiative helps with the organization.
18. Number two, give one away: Give another person a “deferred coffee“. The idea behind it originally comes from Nepal: You buy a coffee for yourself – and pay for a second one, which someone then gets for a treat. This can be, for example, pensioners who have no money at the end of the month, single parents who have forgotten their wallet at home or homeless people who are cold. There is sure to be a bakery or coffee shop near you that will participate. In some cities, the campaign is also known as the “donation board”.
19. Blood donation: Go to donate blood again. At the moment, blood donations are always rare. Information is available from Blood donation service or at German Red Cross.
20. Greetings at the door: For someone you know is lonely, put a few cookies or a small flower greeting with a few personal words outside the door.
21. Watch films together is not only possible in real life, but also in digital life, keyword Watch Party via Amazon or Netflix Party.
22. Spread the word! If you come across an interesting podcast, a clever newspaper commentary, an exciting film or a funny book: Simply pass the tip on, by email or a quick message on your mobile phone.
23. Anticipation is the second most beautiful joy: Give away a voucher for a joint event in the time after Corona.
24. Passing things on: When you muck out, think about all the clothes, books, CDs and things that you no longer need, who you could please with them.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Hug a tree: why you should try it
- Make the most beautiful Christmas gifts yourself!
- These 6 films and series are balm for the soul