The holiday season is upon us, and while many of us are working remotely, there's no reason we can't still celebrate with our colleagues. A virtual Christmas party might just be the ticket to spreading holiday cheer and facilitating team bonding, all from the comfort of our own homes. However, organizing a virtual event that's fun and engaging can be as challenging as figuring out what gifts to buy for a Secret Santa. That's where your creativity comes into play—and a little help from OneTask doesn't hurt either! Let's dive into a virtual wonderland of celebration ideas and organizational tips.
Unique Virtual Celebration Ideas
Ugly Sweater Contest
- Send out a memo: Have OneTask remind everyone to prepare an outfit.
- Use a video conferencing tool: Zoom or Google Meet can let you see all the creative (and ugly) fashion choices in real time.
- Award prizes: Offer online gift cards or additional holiday PTO for the winners.
Online Team Building Games
- Plan ahead: Schedule games using OneTask, which can sync with your Google Calendar.
- Choose the right games: From virtual escape rooms to trivia quizzes, make sure they're suitable for a large group.
Virtual Secret Santa
- Organize participants: Create a contact group with OneTask to manage your Secret Santa exchange.
- Set budgets and themes: Make them fun and considerate of remote delivery.
- Gift opening session: Share the joy during the party as each person opens their gift on camera.
Make it Interactive
Festive Cocktail or Cookie Decorating Class
- Book an instructor: Schedule a class and share calendar invites through OneTask.
- Send ingredients lists: Automatically email the list to attendees well in advance.
DIY Christmas Crafts
- Share templates: Make use of Google Drive integration with OneTask to distribute instructions.
- Virtual crafting session: Everyone can work on their craft while chatting.
Christmas Karaoke
- Setup: Use a shared Spotify playlist or YouTube karaoke videos.
- Queue the singers: Allow participants to pick songs and OneTask can remind them when it's their turn.
Making the Most of Technology
Custom Virtual Backgrounds
- Share instructions: Compile a guide on setting up festive virtual backgrounds, organized by OneTask.
- Encourage creativity: Offer a prize for the most creative setup.
Spotify Holiday Playlist Collaboration
- Collaborate on a playlist: A shared Spotify playlist gets everyone in the mood.
- Use OneTask to send reminders: Don't let anyone miss out on adding their favorite holiday tunes.
Online Christmas Movie Watching
- Movie vote: Use a shared Google Form to let everyone vote on which movie to watch - OneTask can keep track of responses.
- Watch together: Stream the movie via a platform like Teleparty.
Bonus Tips for Smooth Sailing
Expert Planning with OneTask
- Issue automated invites: Save time by letting OneTask send out your virtual party invites.
- Schedule breaks: Ensure your schedule includes short breaks for people to stretch and refill their drinks.
Follow-up Fun
- Capture memories: Take screenshots or recordings (with everyone's permission) to remember the fun.
- Feedback session: Use OneTask to send out a feedback form to learn what worked and what could be improved.
Organizing a virtual Christmas party can bring a lot of joy to your remote team, and with OneTask on your side, the planning process can be just as merry. Remember, the key to a successful virtual Christmas party is engagement, so keep those activities interactive and inclusive. From all of us here, have a holly, jolly virtual Christmas!
