While we thought that the quarantine would have been done with by now the sad reality is that we’re still very much in the midst of a pandemic. With no end in sight, people are wondering how they should go about celebrating special occasions. While not being able to go out and celebrate may put a dampener on your mood it really is a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things. Despite the unfortunate set of circumstances, there are still lots of ways to celebrate our birthdays and make tons of beautiful memories!
And while it is tempting to dwell on the negative and climb down the rabbit hole. Mindset is everything. You just have to pull focus away from the negative and take it one day at a time. Now it just so happens that it was my birthday a few days ago. I was in no mood to celebrate not because we’re in quarantine but because I don’t see the appeal in celebrating anymore. This happens once you cross the 30-year mark. But I did manage to do a few of my favourite things. For instance, I spoke to all of my closest friends, spent time with my partner and had a lovely day in with my parents. I baked my own cake with expert help from my partner and made some delicious biryani if I do say so myself. But this isn’t about me and how I like to celebrate.
Here’s a look at a bunch of ideas that you can use to celebrate a special occasion during quarantine:
1) Sleep in
This one is so important for those mums that need to wake up to tend to their children. Quarantine is definitely not making this easier for parents. Sleep is a rare commodity so let someone else do all the heavy lifting for a change. Kick back and relax.
2) Breakfast in bed
This one’s my guilty pleasure. I love the whole shebang of breakfast in bed. A tray with a flower, some coffee, cheese toast and eggs the way I like it. I bet everyone could use a nice happy meal to get a jumpstart on their day.
3) Cook your favourite quarantine meal
Quarantine for me has been all about learning a new skill. I’ve been trying to perfect a few things that I like to make. I’ve been on the hunt for that perfect biryani recipe and I finally cracked it on my birthday. I call them birthday blessings. I had such a blast cooking for my family and getting all their honest feedback. But nothing should stop you from doing whatever you can to make your special day a memorable one.
4) Bake a cake
My new found love of baking made me want to bake my own cake. I am telling you that my highest form of productivity occurs when I am cooking or baking during this quarantine. Of course, I baked a day in advance so I could get downtime. Of course, I baked Tiffin Tale‘s Apple Cake for the family, I promise you won’t regret baking this one. But, if baking is not your things, there are plenty of home bakers out there who need the support so order up.
5) Order in
If cooking your own birthday or anniversary lunch is too much of a hassle and all you want is to be horizontal then do it. And, definitely don’t do it, if this is something you do every day. But, if someone you love cooks for you or better yet orders in from your favourite restaurant then you’ve hit the goldmine haven’t ya! My idea of wealth equates to great food. These are literally my quarantine goals.
6) Set the mood
So you may not be having guests over but that doesn’t mean your space can’t look nice. Put up some fairy lights, add a few candles and if you have streamers lying around the house then put them to use. You need to set up the vibe to get into that celebratory spirit.
7) Get dressed for yourself
Just cause we’re staying home doesn’t mean we can’t look like we’re going out. So squeeze in that long shower and get all decked out for your little virtual get-together. Do what you got to, to make your quarantine special occasion a memorable one.
8) Have a virtual get-together
Ever since we went into quarantine we’ve managed to stay connected digitally. We frequently use apps like Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Whatsapp video and more. So use one of these many apps and organise a nice meeting with all your near and dear ones. Just make sure you do a quick test before you begin to avoid any technical delays.
9) Play some online games
Once you begin your virtual gathering you can also host a few rounds of games. The privileges of having such advanced technology. Since you can’t serve up any food, just serve up a bunch of games to keep everyone happy and engaged.
10) Have a quarantine spa day at home
Just cause we can’t go out and enjoy a spa day anymore doesn’t mean we can’t pamper ourselves from the comfort of our homes. Pull out that face pack you’ve been meaning to try, get those aromatic essential oils goings and relax. You can check out my very detailed blog on this subject here.
11) Re-watch your favourite movie
Nothing I love more than re-watching my all-time favourite flicks. I like knowing what to expect because it just decreases the anxiety of not knowing for me. A bag of popcorn, coupled with your drink, laying in bed with a cosy quilt. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect quarantine vibe?
12) Have a quarantine drink
Ok, who’s with me. Quarantine has certainly put a stop to my favourite leisurely activity. It’s that after work one drink with your mates that relieves the stress of the day. It’s that one drink that gets you heady enough to let go of the things that bog you down. I truly enjoyed sharing a drink with my friend’s post work. And since that effectively stopped after the quarantine I think it’s fair to allow yourself a nice glass of your favourite drink.
13) Get some sexy time with your partner
I know it’s all hush-hush in India but let’s be honest, we have a pretty large population. Doesn’t happen magically so we know everyone’s getting busy behind closed doors. Have a little fun, do a little romantic dance with your partner, spice it up with some sexy nightwear. In short, just spend quality time with them.
You can also get everyone to send in video recordings wishing the person for their birthday or put together a compilation of their favourite songs or make a mixed tape. I know quarantine makes it twice as hard for anything to truly be a surprise but honestly, the smallest acts will go a long way. Write a love letter, make a bucket list of places you want to visit when quarantine ends. There are endless possibilities of how one can spend their special day and if all else fails just check out Pinterest. I find some great inspiration on there for pretty much everything and anything.
How do you plan on spending your special day in quarantine? Let me know in the comments below.
And don’t forget to follow @missmalinilifestyle for more interesting updates.