During the challenging time we are going through, many feel a lack of social contact as they deal with the safety measures established in the pandemic. As difficult as it is to find friends in the same physical space, geographic distance does not prohibit some initiatives for us to preserve certain social events, such as a secret friend, for example. We just need to adapt!
This fun activity, practiced by family, friends and even co-workers, is a way to bring people together through the exchange of gifts. But now, since there is a great separation between people, delivering a gift is no longer something simple and can be risky or time-consuming, unfortunately. However, the secret friend tradition doesn't need to stop – like all others, this year it needs to adapt to new molds.
For those who would like to organize a secret friend in times of social isolation, there are valuable tips that allow this group activity, without harming the new safety standards. Starting with the part of the draw, there are already sites that allow the exchange of names to take place virtually. Just register the names of the participants, and the site will do the rest, distributing the names to each member of the game, with the advantage that there is no risk of someone taking their own name, for example.
In addition, these sites may also present a basic profile of your secret friend, which will list your preferences, making it easier to select a gift. It may be that the site also sends you the address of your secret friend, if you choose to send the gift by mail or app, which are the most appropriate delivery options for many at the moment.
How would it work?
It is obvious that this experience will be different from what we are used to. It is necessary to accept that some gifts will take longer to reach the recipients, but there is always the possibility of informing yourself and looking for stores and suppliers close to your secret friend. So now is the time to organize everything and have time to send the treats to your friends!
But what about the party? Now, let's go videoconferencing, okay? The secret friend can be revealed in an animated video call. The virtual event can happen before the gifts reach the recipients.
What's important to keep in mind is that a secret friend is, at heart, more about togetherness than material possessions. Yes, the present is a fundamental aspect, but not the only one. WhatsApp groups and video calls will be essential for everything to come to fruition and it is even recommended that there is an organizer leading the event to facilitate communication and resolve any setbacks. If this person is able to afford it, he or she can even be responsible for delivering all the gifts to the participants by car.
There is also the possibility of bringing together many people, from different places, and it would be a big secret friend, with those people who can never make it to the party.
It is even worth coming up with ideas for non-physical gifts, eliminating the possibility of sending them by mail or anything of the kind. Online volcher from your favorite store, virtual letter, book club subscription and streaming, video singing a song… With this idea, you have to put your mind to work, use your imagination and take the opportunity to innovate!
You may also like
- Meet the types of secret friend and renew this game
- Learn how to spend a zen Christmas and free yourself from obligations
- Bring more light into your life during Christmas
In the end, we don't have to give up our social life because of isolation. The physical presence of friends is lacking, but technology gives us the opportunity to adjust our practices in other ways. The important thing is to respect the new rules made to preserve our health. For the rest, even through a screen, we can celebrate our friendship and exchange gifts on special dates. Find the site that best suits your needs and start planning!
