This New Year eve, give alcohol a miss and yet get a ‘kick.’ You can be all by yourself and indulge in some wacky activities. By Team Viva
Go, get a life
This can’t be for the faint-hearted. It is for those who travel far and wide to jump off a cliff, take a dive in the sea or wait for winters to ice skate. So if you fall in the latter category, just go ahead and do something that only remains on your bucket list so far — it can be bungee jumping, water rafting or ice adventure sports. While your friends plan a party and get their wardrobe ready, you can prepare yourself to face the adrenaline rush and thrill that only a few things in life can get you. The bonus is that you will get to travel and meet more adventure junkies like you.
Plan a pop-up
We are not talking about hosting a meal for relatives here. All you have to do is give a chance to the chef that lies hidden in you. Take an advantage of all that you have learnt from the Nigella lawsons of the world and rustle up a meal that you know would take any foodie by surprise. Use your social networking skills to invite your guests, they can be strangers, too, and you can charge for the meal. This can turn out to be an interesting social activity that will not just make you popular but will also get you some money.
Shop and drop
Have you ever tried retail therapy, rather than binging on cheese and chocolates, whenever you have had a bad dayIJ If not, this is the time. And it works, too. Do not hold yourself whenever you spot your favourite pair of stilettos or the trench coat you have been eyeing for long. Just go ahead and get it. Also do not limit yourself to things that you have been stuffing in your wardrobe. Experiment, try that bodycon dress you thought you will wear after shedding some extra pounds. Just let it be and give new things a chance.
Surprise your boss
Cribbing we all do, but for a change do something that will pleasantly surprise your boss. It may sound difficult but the trick may work in your favour. You do not have to buy expensive gifts or talk fake to please your bosses, you may have to change your style of working for a few days, be more cooperative with your colleagues or take up a responsibility you have always been avoiding. Even if this does not have any impact on your boss, this will not do any bad either!
Walk back in time
Are there places which you once frequented and have been planning to visit but haven’t been able toIJ It can be the college canteen, a favourite restaurant or a city landmarkIJ These are some places with which most of the memories of our growing up days are attached — of friends, pranks, good times and many more. Set aside all appointments and head straight to that place. It will not only make you feel happy but you will also get a chance to relive your memories.
Make that call
We all have one such friend who we always miss but never call. If you have not spoken to your best for some time, pick up your phone and give them a call. Whatever be the reason for the silence between the two of you — misunderstanding, a fight, living in different cities or just no conversation because of busy lives — one call is all that will make everything right. And if it is a group of best friends that we are talking about, what better time to reuniteIJ In such case, set aside the ego and the differences and patch up.
Movie marathon
If you have always boasted of being a movie buff then nothing will excite you more than locking yourself up in a room with the collection of your favourite films. You can even beg, steal or borrow movies if you have to for this. Make a collection of movies you want to watch. It is your holiday and you know how to make the best of it. And if theatres are your thing, do not stop yourself from hopping from one movie theatre to the other catching up on the latest releases. Who cares about company in this case!
Raise a toast with your family
How about having fun with familyIJ Trust us, it’s not boring if you really manage to make it ‘happening’! Try to engage with kids and elderly people in bringing the house down as they unlock their creativity within the four walls. Do shoot these incredible memories with your handycam or mobile phones. Throw a challenge upon ladies who cook regular food and ask them to prepare something different. Make your drawing room a ballroom with a disco ball, strings of lights and coloured sheets. Daddy can create a disco ball out of glittery paper mache and fill it with prizes, like movie passes, restaurant offers, nuts and crackers. Kids can decide the dress code; it will keep the fun quotient intact. A dance with your grandma or grandpa can be a fabulous idea to close the show. And, a big shout at midnight is mandatory!
Roll up your sleeves
Who thought that cleaning roads and brooming around would be a trendsetterIJ Thanks to the social experiments and the invasion of social media in our daily lives, youth is having fun by enrolling into social causes. All they need as a reward is a selfie which is literally priceless. So roll up your sleeves and make your new year really special by contributing to the environment. Go to the ghats of Yamuna and campaign for a clean drive. You can join hands with some NGO friends. Clean India is already a national issue and you, to, can nominate your friends in sprucing up nearby streets. Animals need special attention during winters so visit a animal shelter and offer some help. Or adopt a stray animal. And if you have some money, then bring cheers to orphanages or old-age centres. A visit to Delhi’s dementia centres can bring a new meaning to your life.
The unthinkable task
Facebook has crashed, Instagram is running down, YouTube is buffering endlessly and there’s a black out on television. What would you do nowIJ Can you think of a day without your mobile, iPad, laptop, television and even your smart wristwatchIJ If it is really difficult to imagine, then you better try doing this. Abandon your gadgets for a day and see the difference it brings to your life. People have lived quite successfully even when Mark Elliot Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs didn’t exist on this planet. Some people have already banished their tech-life and were startled to see what life unfolds before them. It would be more peaceful and there will be no competition of commenting on everything that’s happening under the sun.
You will feel so much relieved that you might contemplate on the invasion of technology in your life.