How to navigate this unusually social-distanced New Year's Eve

Image credit: Fachy Marín on Unsplash

Festivities won’t be on the beach and packed parties won’t be the place to be to see the clock strike midnight on New Year’s Eve. On the plus side, there will be significantly less social pressure to go out and have to try and have the best night of your life on 31 December 2020.

SweepSouth co-founder and CEO Aisha Pandor shares some tips to help you navigate this unusually social-distanced end to the year.

Stay in your bubble

Bubbles don’t just come in a bottle this holiday season. Forming a holiday season ‘bubble’ with a small group of family or friends is a trend globally this year. In many countries, it’s recommended and, in some, it’s regulation. With limited contact with others, the idea is to enjoy the holidays with just your nearest and dearest.

Get spring cleaning

Spring might be behind us, but spring cleaning will have been pushed back for many this year as people have spent a lot more time at home working, parenting, cooking, learning to bake bread, exercising, making pineapple beer and more. With all of this time spent in the same space, mess and dirt quickly accumulate. And with such busy lives, deep cleaning isn’t always a top priority.

It's time for a spring clean with SweepSouth

2 Sep 2019

Now is the time to demolish those dust bunnies and get sprucing, polishing, wiping and washing. If the thought of cleaning carpets, cabinets, windows and the dreaded oven feels overwhelming, here are some handy tips to get you started:

• Rent a steam-cleaner to get rid of stains and smells in carpets (especially important if you have pets). You can also freshen up carpets and rugs by sprinkling them with bicarbonate of soda, letting it absorb for a few hours and then vacuuming it up.
  
• While you wait, you can spray any neglected bathroom or kitchen tiles with some diluted bleach, leave it on for a while and then use some elbow grease and a stiff brush to tackle the grouting.
  
• If you want to give the impression that you’re a domestic whiz, steep a couple of tea bags in boiling water for 15 minutes, grab a bucket and a soft cloth and use the water (on the damp, not wet, cloth) to wipe the floor and give it an amazing shine.

A staycation at home presents an opportunity to get the house in shape for a fresh start in the new year.

Offer a helping hand

Don’t take on all of the responsibility of ensuring that everyone has the perfect holiday break. Everyone can chip in, whether it’s bringing or preparing a dish, chopping, washing dishes, watching the kids or taking the dog for a walk. Why not put everyone in charge of a meal or task? Or order in - ditch the dishes, eat out of the box, play some board games and debate whether pineapple belongs with tomato and cheese.

After a rough year, it’s all about teamwork.

Support local business 

This year has been hard for businesses, with people going out and spending less. When buying thank-you gifts, look for local businesses that you can support whether it’s independent book shops, a local artist, a small butcher instead of a supermarket or home enterprises making biscuits or other handmade goods. By doing so, you’ll support businesses going into the new year and boost the local economy.