When you’re done with your tree for the year, take it down and store it according to the manufacturer’s directions. If your tree is technologically advanced, this may mean considering storing it in a climate-controlled closet or other space to avoid damage.

I have always envied those people who could pull off a week-long retreat between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to reflect on life and make any course corrections for the upcoming year. Little did I know my first opportunity to be like them would come in a fifth-floor hospital room.

To keep everyone safer, including vulnerable populations such as seniors and those with underlying health conditions, it is recommended that large gatherings be avoided. Even small groups are encouraged to be limited to only individuals who have been quarantining together.