Supporting your friends this season is probably – no, definitely – the most important gift you can give them for the holidays. So we’ve come up with four ways to make this season special for your chosen family.
1. Friendsgiving
Creating your own holiday traditions with friends is a fun way to include everyone in the festivities. You can have a big potluck, a Yankee Swap, and just have a cozy night with your closest pals. The best part of this diy holiday is that you can make it work for as many people on your list as possible, especially those who might have to work extra hours on holidays.
2. Gift giving
We all know that gift giving is the age-old way of showing your friends you care, but you can make that happen without breaking the bank this holiday season. Instead of buying your friends individual presents (which, you can of course get them small gifts as a solution to this), you can buy a larger quantity of things and tailor them to each person. For example, a set of amber glass bottles and a set of essential oils costs less than $50 on Amazon, so you could make your friends their own personal perfumes! It’s a great way to add in your personal touch, while still giving quality gifts.
3. Showing up for them
The most important thing you can do to support your friends at this time, and at any time, is simply be there for them. Pop up in their inbox asking how they’re doing, invite them over during stressful holiday weekends and cook together, schedule phone calls with those visiting their dysfunctional families to check in. It’s really just about showing that you are family too, and they can rely on you.
4. Ask
The biggest way you can give your support and love to struggling friends during the holidays is by asking what they need. Maybe they aren’t the kind of person to ask for help, but proving to them that you are there and want to know what you can do for them is extremely important. And knowing that you are supporting your friends as best you can will make you feel a little extra warmth during the coldest time of the year.
Written by Allison Isaksen
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
