Christmas is fast approaching and after the last few years of having a particularly isolated Christmas, we want to stress the importance of staying in touch and reaching out to those that might need some support this season.
With Covid-19 still rife, and new variants popping up every few months, it might be difficult to get the whole family together. Last year it felt like we missed out, and although we might not be able to communicate in person and spend Christmas with everyone we want to, there are a few things we can do to ensure everyone is involved in the fun and feels connected.
So we are recommending a few things you can do to ensure everyone is safe mentally and physically this year.
How To Stay In Touch
Lockdown and Covid-19 in general has had a large effect on our mental health. Fear, anxiety, general concern and the effects of loneliness have been magnified over the last few years due to the pandemic, especially for vulnerable people.
In addition, The Christmas period can be difficult for a number of reasons. In a recent survey 38% of people said their stress increased during the Christmas period, and after a year of losing loved ones, the festive period can be particularly challenging.
As well as our mental and physical health, Covid-19 has had an effect on the economy, many people have lost their jobs, homes and have gotten into debt and addiction. Christmas is a period of mass shopping and boozing, so it might be hard for those that can't afford to have an extravagant Christmas or that turn to substances to cope.
Communication and human contact are super important, so think of creative ways to help out those in your local area, or people you know that might need some extra support, and give where you can.
Keep in contact with people that might be alone or struggling, a little chat, drop-in, phone call, or skype call can go a long way. So, try to remember to make an effort.
Spread Some Festive Cheer
During the festive season, we tend to get caught up in our own world and some family members and friends might slip under the radar. It's important to reach out to loved ones and stay connected to those that might not be able to join us.
Christmas can be an incredibly difficult and lonely time for a lot of people, but spreading a little bit of Christmas joy could really help people get through this period:
- Write a Christmas card, or make a Christmas video, that you can send to people contact-free, to let them know you care about them.
- Sending gifts, or food to a local charity, or someone you think might benefit from it can make all the difference, and brighten up someone's day.
- Whilst the kids play on Christmas day, take the opportunity to talk to friends, colleagues and family members on the phone and get everyone you can involved in your celebrations.
Tips To Keep You Safe
The Christmas season is exciting and we all want to have as much fun as possible while at the same time, ensuring safety for everyone.
The UK government have provided a number of guidelines to help you, your family and your friends stay safe throughout the Christmas period.
Get Tested - try not to eat, drink, or vape 30 minutes before doing the test as it could affect your test result. Read the test instructions carefully, clean the surface you're putting the test on, check that nothing in your test kit is damaged or broken and start the test within 30 minutes of opening the test kit.
A smaller Christmas is a safer Christmas, so keep it small this year in who you come into contact with. Try to limit the big day to immediate family or close friends.
Finally, be sure to keep updated on the news, rules are likely to change and guidance may evolve so keeping updated will ensure you are doing everything you can to prevent anyone from falling ill.
For more information about keeping safe this Christmas, visit the government website.
Stay In Touch With Us
This Christmas we're not going anywhere, we're still going to be giving you great content and tips for the New Year, we'll also have some exclusive Christmas product deals and discounts that you can grab in time for Christmas.
We know Christmas can be heavy for a lot of people, so stay in touch with the vaping community, and reach out if you need help.