Love Christmas, but not crowds? Here's how you can spend the festive season at home while still basking in the holiday spirit

Whenever the holiday season rolls around, it's unsurprising to see huge throngs doing last-minute shopping in malls, listening to carolling on the streets or just immersing in the celebratory spirit.

While most people look forward to the chance to revel in the holiday cheer, some of us may find ourselves feeling like the Grinch. Especially for the more introverted ones (like myself), the thought of large crowds and raucous celebrations can create a looming sense of dread.

For all my fellow introverts, or those who prefer a quieter way to spend the holidays, choosing to stay in doesn't mean we have to miss out on the festive fun.

Rather than feeling suffocated spending your day among crowds, here's how you can soak in the festivities within the comforts of your home – whether it's alone or with loved ones.

10am: Spruce up your home (and yourself)

It's universally known that how you start your morning can often make or break your day. This is why it's essential to set the festive mood right from the get-go.

We're talking about throwing on some festive clothes – ugly holiday sweaters or comfortable Christmas pyjamas, whatever floats your boat – pulling out the Christmas tree and baubles for their yearly appearance, or lighting a scented candle.

If all these sound like too much work, putting on some Last Christmas or Feliz Navidad will do the trick at the very least.

12pm: Bask in the spirit of giving

With Christmas dubbed as the time of giving, it's a chance to shower your family and friends with love and care. If jostling with crowds while gift-shopping is not your cup of tea, how about making a gift from scratch?

Simply jump on Pinterest or Instagram to get some inspiration for handmade Christmas cards so you can pen your heartfelt gratitude towards your loved ones.

Or if your loved ones are foodies, it may be time to bust out the flour, sugar and eggs for some good ol' holiday baking. Whether it's classic sugar cookies with colourful sprinkles or an indulgent and gooey sticky toffee pudding, as they say, the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach.

2pm: Put on a classic holiday movie

Nothing screams Christmas more than watching a holiday movie like Home Alone or Elf. Pour yourself a glass of wine or cup of tea, grab a bag of popcorn and cosy up in front of your television.

For a full 'home cinema' experience, all you're missing now is the big screen. BenQ's portable projector GV30 might be just what you're looking for to make your private cinema dreams a reality.

Boasting a unique 135-degree rotation angle, the GV30 allows you to easily project your movie on any spot you want – yes, even on your ceilings! With its autofocus and vertical keystone functions, you won't break a sweat while setting it up or making any adjustments.

The GV30 is also equipped with a sharp 720p projection and 2.1 CH 16W speakers with extra bass for elevated audio, ticking all the boxes for a home cinematic experience. What's more, the GV30 allows wireless projection for multiple OS and devices, and is powered by Android TV, providing you with more than 5,000 Google Play apps for endless entertainment.

With the GV30 retailing at $849, those looking for a more pocket-friendly option can consider the GV11 which retails at $599.

The GV11 brings similar award-winning features, such as the rotating lens, 135-degree projection angle and auto vertical keystone correction, catering to today's digital nomad. Compact and weighing less than 1kg, the GV11 also comes with a 270-degree 5W speaker with bass extensions to produce a room-filling sound, and is powered by Android TV.

Forget about stepping foot into crowded movie theatres. With BenQ's portable projectors, big-screen entertainment will be at your fingertips.

4pm: Give yourself a holiday glow-up

We all deserve a good treat every once in a while – what's more, during the festive season. Give yourself some tender loving care with an at-home facial or relaxing bath.

For the full festive experience, choose from all-time favourite holiday scents such as peppermint, cinnamon and vanilla. Don't forget to grab a cup of hot chocolate to accompany your bubble bath and you'll be all set.

6pm: Feast on a Christmas spread

From rich and luxurious chocolate log cake to honey-glazed turkey with cranberry sauce, let's be honest, who can resist indulging during the holiday season?

Unless whipping up a feast in the kitchen is your idea of fun, you might find it more convenient to opt for delivery or pick up some takeaway for your festive dinner. With Christmas menus aplenty today, you can literally satisfy any craving you have.

8pm: Indulge in your guilty pleasures

While the festive season is about showing love to those around you, don't forget to fill your own cup too. To wind down after a long day, how about taking the chance to indulge in your favourite hobbies?

It could be picking up the book that you've left to collect dust in a corner, or getting back to your half-finished crochet project. Or even just having time to play a video game with friends, or binge watch the latest Netflix drama.

If your hobby finds you with your eyes glued to the screen for hours (yes, we're looking at you avid gamers and binge watchers), you might want to consider getting BenQ's ScreenBar Plus LED Monitor Light ($209) to show your eyes some love. We're all for self-care right?

Featuring auto-dimming functions thanks to its built-in ambient light sensor, the ScreenBar Plus provides optimal light setting when viewing digital screens, making hours of gaming or binge watching gentle on your eyes. Alternatively, the lighting can be manually adjusted across 15 brightness levels and eight colour temperatures using a desktop dial.

Designed for ultimate eye care, the ScreenBar Plus also protects against screen glare, flicker and blue light. The minimalists among us would be glad to know it can be easily attached to your monitor without any base, screw or tape, keeping your space clutter-free.

Considering its lighting capabilities and comfort on your eyes, chances are you'd still want to keep the ScreenBar Plus close by for your day-to-day work after the holiday season.

There's snow place like home

As it turns out, skipping crowds and staying indoors during Christmas can also be a foolproof way to spend the holidays – especially when armed with the right gadgets.

From providing a private home cinema set-up to transforming your screen viewing experience, BenQ's portable projectors GV30 and GV11, and ScreenBar Plus LED Monitor Light will take your stay-home Christmas itinerary from zero to 100.

And beyond the festive season, the portable projectors and ScreenBar Plus are trusty gadgets that you will definitely get a lot of use out of – be it for binge watching, movie time with friends and family, or just enhancing your daily productivity.

P.S. they make unique yet practical gifts as well, so consider adding these gadgets to your shopping list!

Available on Shopee, Lazada and Amazon, try out these gadgets for yourself to experience a Christmas like never before.

Exclusive to AsiaOne readers, enjoy additional savings when you purchase these gadgets from BenQ's Shopee store before 11.59pm on Jan 1, 2023. Simply use the code 'BENQXMAS' to get $30 off the GV30 and GV11, and 'BENQGIFT' to get $10 off the ScreenBar Plus. 

This article is brought to you in partnership with BenQ.

yukiling@asiaone.com

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