Without being able to see your extended family or go shopping for presents this year, the holiday cheer may feel muted. Here are some things I have been doing to get myself in the holiday spirit, which I recommend to others:

• Movies: Every year my family watches the same four movies while we decorate the tree. This is a tradition that’s easy to keep up this year. These movies give us a familiar warmth of the holiday season. 
• Baking: Cookies or gingerbread houses are a staple of the holiday season, at least in my family.
• Enjoy the cool weather: With or without snow, going out in the chilly winter air gives me a sense of the holidays. 
• Spend time with your family: Even though we may not be able to see our extended family this year, we have a great opportunity to appreciate the people closest to us who are in our own household. 
• Decorate your house: I decorated my house the day after Thanksgiving to really throw myself in the holiday spirit. Waking up and seeing my house adorned with red and green always puts me in a good mood. 

If your family has different traditions, I encourage you to amplify them this year. In the midst of all the chaos 2020 has brought, I think we could all use some extra holiday spirit.