{"id":1060,"date":"2020-12-16T15:48:53","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T15:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/university-advice\/?p=1060"},"modified":"2023-03-28T09:38:05","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T09:38:05","slug":"safely-enjoy-the-festive-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/tutors\/safely-enjoy-the-festive-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Top tips to safely enjoy the festive season \ud83c\udf84"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1064 alignright lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/76790002.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"92\" height=\"96\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 92px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 92\/96;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1064 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/76790002.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"92\" height=\"96\" \/><\/noscript><\/em><em>This article is written by our guest blogger <strong>Lauren Johnson<\/strong>, who tutors English and Media Studies on MyTutor.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s that time of year again. Every surface is covered in glittering fairy lights, Mariah Carey and Wham soundtrack our every move, and it\u2019s socially acceptable to eat advent calendar chocolate for breakfast. The holiday season has arrived, and a bit of festive cheer is needed more than ever. Changing regulations and lockdown measures have made this term challenging for many, so some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/university-advice\/looking-after-your-mental-health\/\">rest and relaxation<\/a> is definitely on the cards. While things may be different this year, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy yourself while keeping you and your loved ones safe.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1061 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/student-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"438\" height=\"309\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 438px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 438\/309;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1061\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/student-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"438\" height=\"309\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h2>Try Some Christmas baking \ud83c\udf70<\/h2>\n<p>Getting stuck into some home baking is a safe and fun way to spend your time this December. Get the whole family involved in putting together a gingerbread house listening to some Christmas tunes, or bake some treats to give to friends as presents (everyone loves receiving homemade goodies)! Gifting some baked goods also allows you to beat the high street queues and save money on expensive pressies. Grab a recipe online for simple cookies, brownies and cupcakes, and decorate them with red and green icing or sprinkles for a festive twist &#8211; just remember to leave some for the big man on Christmas Eve! You could even turn it into a bake-off style competition against the other members of your household, with someone acting as a judge. Will your efforts be good enough to receive a Paul Hollywood handshake?<em> (With sanitiser on standby, of course)<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2>Have a festive movie night \ud83c\udfac<\/h2>\n<p>This one may seem obvious, but there&#8217;s nothing better than putting your pyjamas on and getting settled in for a cosy movie night with your support bubble. However, the success of your movie night will depend on a few factors. Firstly, the choice of film. Will you keep it traditional with \u2018Miracle on 34th Street\u2019, go for a modern classic like \u2018Elf\u2019 or add some excitement with \u2018Die Hard\u2019? Or you could check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/parents\/the-25-best-sort-of-educational-christmas-films\/\">25 best (sort of) educational Christmas films.<\/a> Then, cultivate a cinema experience with some popcorn or nachos, or keep it Christmassy with candy canes and hot chocolate. Whatever you go for, make sure to turn on some twinkling fairy lights for the perfect festive ambience.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1063 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/teacher-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"477\" height=\"336\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 477px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 477\/336;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1063\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/teacher-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"477\" height=\"336\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h2>Try some Christmas karaoke \ud83c\udfb6<\/h2>\n<p>Unless you\u2019re one of those Grinch types, you\u2019ll probably agree that Christmas music is one of the best things about this time of year. If you\u2019re searching for a way to get the Christmas party vibes going in the comfort of your own home, look no further! You don\u2019t need an expensive karaoke machine to join in on the fun. Revel in the festive vibes by creating a playlist of your favourite tunes and having a singalong! Whether you go for East 17, Shakin\u2019 Stevens or The Pogues, you\u2019ll have the entire household on their feet. Avoid sharing microphones to keep things safe, and include distant family members and friends by dialling them in for an X-Factor style competition, complete with a judging panel and prizes.<\/p>\n<h2>Have a family game night \ud83c\udfb2<\/h2>\n<p>While traditional board games are not currently advised to reduce contact of shared surfaces, there are plenty of games that can be played safely. Charades are a classic option, beloved by mums and dads. If you\u2019re bored of watching your older brother attempting to act out \u2018Lord of The Rings\u2019 every year, Head\u2019s Up is a more modern game that might be more exciting. Just attach a sticky note with a celeb\u2019s name on it to someone\u2019s forehead, and watch them ask yes or no questions to guess their identity! If you\u2019re stuck for ideas, there are plenty of app versions of this game, too. Pictionary is another fun option for spending some quality family time, and can also be played remotely by holding your creations up to the screen or using a whiteboard on a video call.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1062 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/parents-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"421\" height=\"297\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 421px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 421\/297;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1062\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/parents-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"421\" height=\"297\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h2>Get stuck into Christmas crafting \ud83c\udfa8<\/h2>\n<p>Happy DIY December! If you\u2019re more of an introvert, and the idea of singing and acting in front of other people makes you cringe, there are quieter Christmas activities that you can enjoy. Crafting is a great way to enjoy some time away from screens (and like baking, provides great gifting options). If you\u2019re entertaining younger siblings or children, there are plenty of festive crafting activities to choose from. Revisit your childhood by making paper snowflakes or decorating your own baubles. More experienced crafters may want to embark on sewing, knitting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vmHDKu7tzz8&amp;feature=youtu.be\">origami<\/a>, or embroidery projects, but the fun part is coming up with your own festive concepts. For those who aren\u2019t as coordinated or creative, this is also a great time to support small businesses who may be struggling financially due to the dreaded \u2018P\u2019 word. Maybe you have friends or family who sell their own products, or you could browse online to find hand-crafted treats that can be delivered to your door.<\/p>\n<h2>And there you have it!<\/h2>\n<p>As Andy Williams once said, it\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year, so make sure to find time to put down the books and enjoy some fun, festive activities over the holidays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article is written by our guest blogger Lauren Johnson, who tutors English and Media Studies on MyTutor. It\u2019s that time of year again. Every surface is covered in glittering fairy lights, Mariah Carey and Wham soundtrack our every move,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[792,790],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Top tips to safely enjoy the festive season \ud83c\udf84 | MyTutor<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/tutors\/safely-enjoy-the-festive-season\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top tips to safely enjoy the festive season \ud83c\udf84 | MyTutor\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This article is written by our guest blogger Lauren Johnson, who tutors English and Media Studies on MyTutor. 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