5 Ways to Make New Year’s Eve at Home Fun
For most people New Year’s Eve means parties, fancy meals, and getting dressed up. But for some seniors, getting out to a social event for a long night can be trying and unrealistic. Driving home late at night when you’re tired (and the roads are full of other people doing the same – some with a night of drinking behind them) is a safety risk that’s probably not worth the trouble.
That doesn’t have to mean giving up on a great New Year’s Eve though. A New Year’s Eve celebration at home can be just as fun and meaningful as one at a nice venue downtown – more fun even, if you appreciate having a more intimate evening with the people you’re closest to.
Here are 5 tips for making your New Year’s Eve at home a night to remember:
1. Invite some of the people closest to you.
A lot of people will have plans on New Year’s Eve, but there’s definitely a contingent of revelers that prefer smaller celebrations with the people they love. Check with a few family members and close friends to see if they’ve made plans yet and would be interested in joining you.
2. Decorate!
Give your home the right look for the New Year’s Eve spirit. You can buy streamers and party hats at the store, or consider making some fun DIY decorations. Adding a little extra visual flair to your home will help differentiate the day so you can be sure it doesn’t feel like just another night at home.
3. Make yourself a great meal.
Do a big grocery trip in the days before to make sure you have the ingredients for some of your favorite recipes and a dish or two that includes the foods considered lucky to eat on New Year’s Eve. Stock up on some tasty snack food as well so you ensure your evening is as delicious as it would be at any fancy restaurant (but more comfortable, and without having to deal with parking).
4. Have activities planned you know you and your guests will enjoy.
You know what you and your guests like – have around board games, fun conversation topics, or movies you know you all like to fill the time enjoyably. Consider making a few activity options available and keeping the plan for the evening flexible so you and your guests can figure it out as you go.
5. Talk about the year that just past and your resolutions for the year to come.
Devote a portion of the evening to remembering all the good of the year you’re leaving behind – you can share pictures and stories of some of the highlights of the year. And then consider your goals and resolutions for the year to come. Toast to having a better year than the last (even if you’re toasting with sparkling grape juice rather than champagne).
Staying in can easily be at least as much fun as going out on New Year’s, if you prepare things in a way that ensures you’ll have a special night. Close friends, good food, and meaningful conversation can make the night a special one to ring in the New Year.
Kristen Hicks
Kristen Hicks is an Austin-based copywriter and lifelong student with an ongoing curiousity to learn and explore new things. She turns that interest to researching and exploring subjects helpful to seniors and their families for SeniorAdvisor.com.