Setting Holiday Boundaries in a Pandemic

How to Communicate Boundaries in 2020

Communicating boundaries clearly and effectively can create additional safety measures, reduce anxiety and express love so you can enjoy your time together:

1. ​Having a proactive conversation in advance of getting together can reduce conflict and deepen intimacy.  This can entail describing our overall level of risk-aversiveness and ways we've tried to mitigate our exposure to the virus while also asking specific questions about those that are likely to be in attendance.  Also, what specific measures are they taking to reduce the risk of infection and spread at their event or gathering?​
2. Asserting our needs by asking for what we want to help us feel more safe, less anxious and therefore more present is a key ingredient.  This may help all parties involved get closer to something that works well enough for everyone.  Know what our deal breakers are that we're not willing to compromise on so we can express them in a caring but clear way.
3. We get to say, "No" with kindness and care, at any point along the way.  This may be that we plan to spend time with others but have to cancel at the last minute due to new concerns.  It also may be that we go but then realize that boundaries are not being attended to in agreed upon ways or that we find out new information about the lack of health precautions others have taken that they didn't share in advance.

Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in 2020

Thankfully, there are a myriad of ways to celebrate the holidays:

• ​Zoom is offering extended webcam sessions on the holidays (over 45 minutes) for those that want extra time.
  
• Having a meal, playing a game, watching a movie and/or expressing gratitude via webcam
  
• Cooking a meal and delivering it safely to loved ones in your local area
  
• Sending a meal and/or dessert to loved ones far away
  
• Donating a gift in honor of a loved one to provide education to those in low-income communities, or cure unnecessary cataract blindness with those from underserved areas of the world.
  

What other creative ways are you celebrating?  (Leave in the comment section below)

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