“It’s the first Saturday afternoon in December and the scene is the same, year after year. My extended family — like, really extended — gathers at a local venue for passed apps, cocktails, and a yearly Yankee swap. Santa comes with a big sack of gifts for the kids while all the adults mingle merrily. All the adults, that is, except for my immediate family,” writes Samm Davidson. So what do they do instead? Check it out and see if it sounds familiar.

Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor

There are many things to love about the holiday season, but let’s just say that COVID-19 and the flu aren’t exactly at the top of our wish lists. Though nothing about getting sick is nice, there’s one essential we love keeping at home to make the season feel a bit less naughty, and that’s the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Self Test by Abbott. We love the convenience of keeping a few of these kits stashed at home, and the BinaxNOW Self Test does that without sacrificing quality — it actually uses the exact same technology that your doctor’s test would.

That mad dash down the steps to open all the presents is so fun... but it ends too quickly. So what can you do about it? Here’s some games and strategies to try this year.