Only a few days until 2021 begins, including lockdown. Are you one of those people who are happy when 250 is finally over? Spoiler: The New Year won’t start much differently than this one ends. But at least there may be some hope that things will get better overall. Better? Was your year so bad?

Corona has already made me quite desperate. I was just in the hardware store, for example, several times a day, to get all the materials for the renovation of the future apartment in advance – nobody knew at first whether they were closing. And it’s enough to move into an apartment without a kitchen next year. But without plaster on the walls it would be really bad. Nevertheless I found 2020 always nice. There is, for example, the new apartment, the job with which I am very happy, and most importantly of course – dear people.

Unfortunately, you can hardly see them, especially not hug them. But you can talk to them online, at least see them on the screen and do a lot of other things about them. Our tips:

Selection of video conferencing tools Since the beginning of the year, the range of video conferencing services has steadily expanded. You have a lot of choices. Jitsi Meet, for example, is easy to use and has a clear conscience. Microsoft Teams allows private individuals 10 hours at a time with up to 250 Conference people – or stop baking cookies while the family is on the table. That is quite a board offer. Zoom and Wire now offer end-to-end encryption, even with Signal this is now possible with up to five participants. If you use Cisco Webex anyway, go ahead. Facebook, Google – also works, you just have to want to.

Games, fun and surprises And what do you do then in such a Christmas conference? Exactly what many would do otherwise – play. A long-running favorite among some colleagues at heise is skribbl.io. There are Monday painters and fake answers. There are numerous services that offer Kniffel and other classic board games. The settlers can be played online, but, I heard, they are supposed to be highly addictive.

My colleague Dorothee Wiegand has also collected further ideas:

Meaningful time-out Family is neither in real life nor in video conferencing Your thing. Then do what you didn’t get to at the beginning of the year: complete Wikipedia and map services, backups, tidy up the basement (the recycling centers remain mostly open) or repaint walls. The hardware stores can now at least offer Click & Collect. Small pro tip: wallpapers from 24 make a lot of rubbish that has to be dumped, plaster that has fallen off weighs a lot, new plaster is not that easy to apply and if you also have to scrape off the paint with a spatula, it can lead to a carpal tunnel syndrome. That’s when your thumb, forefinger and middle finger keep falling asleep at night. Great.

Learn, practice, master The piano gets dusty? Colleague Martin Reche tested digital teachers. Is there still a guitar in the corner? He’s also looked at guitar apps. On our Make page, there are an incredible number of projects for advanced tinkerers and small hobbyists. If there is a lack of material, the heise shop still delivers. This form of self-references is allowed.

To the top – 10 – Corona occupations probably also include photography. Walking was almost always allowed, the camera around your neck is like a dog that gives you a reason to get up. In the end there is proof of whether you have a good eye. Look for forums to exchange ideas.

Cooking and baking is said to have been extremely popular with many as well. Was the yeast available once. That comes close to a normal Christmas again. Making potato salad and heating up the sausages is considered cooking!

Merry Christmas The chance the fact that someone at the table complains about the food is extremely low this year. Aunt Besoffski and Uncle War History can be assumed. Most of them will also no longer receive fake gifts. Nevertheless, everyone can treat themselves to their kilo of raclette cheese, stay in their jogging suit all day (okay, that’s not so special this year), have a Tussen Prosecco at lunchtime, 24 Let something flicker on the screen for hours at a time and sleep a lot. Until then it’s back to work. With lockdown evenings.

If you are looking for more ideas for the time at home, the tips from spring have hardly lost any of their relevance.

Coronavirus standstill: lockdown tips for the weekend Coronavirus standstill: lockdown tips for the second weekend Coronavirus standstill: lockdown tips to make yourself comfortable Coronavirus standstill: lockdown tips to persevere Coronavirus Standstill: Lockdown Tips for screen muffle (emw)