For most people, this time of year, Christmas or Hanukah (or whatever you celebrate), and New Year, are huge events. Lots of planning, spending time with family and friends, and spending lots of money too! It can be a little overwhelming. You can read about some tips to survive Christmas here!
But for others, it can be a time of isolation. If you’re spending christmas alone this year, that’s okay! Whether it’s a one off for you – all your friends and family are away this year – or if it’s a regular thing – you live away from family, or your kids are spending Christmas with your ex-partner this year. Whatever the reason, it’s can really suck. For some reason, when we know everyone else is with their family or friends, and we’re by ourselves, it makes us feel even more alone than we normally do. Even if we usually spend a lot of time on our own. If you’re depressed, or even if you’re not, it can seem like the end of the world.
It can definitely be hard to be on our own. But it’s okay to be alone too. Here are a few things to keep you going this holiday season.
- Remember you’re not alone, in being alone. Lots of people spend the holidays by themselves and survive! So you can too.
- Sometimes spending a bit of time on your own can be good for you. You can take the time to reflect on the past year, and practice some gratitude. Think about what you’re grateful for this year, and think about what you want for yourself, and maybe set goals for the New Year. Whether they are personal, work, or health goals.
- Don’t idealise Christmas, it can be a great day for some people, but for others, not so much. Even though other people are with their family for the holidays, doesn’t mean they’re having a good time. Most people have interpersonal difficulties in their family, which can make family get togethers very stressful!
- If you are really keen to do something you can always check out websites like Meet Ups’ where you can find groups of people from all walks of life, with hundreds of different interest groups. Cooking, sporting, outdoor activities, movies, theatre, gaming, fashion, arts and crafts – and more. There are hundreds of events on at any given time, and anyone can go! It’s a great way to get out of the house and meet new people.
And here are some tips to make the most of Christmas alone.
- Plan your day in advance. We all know everything is shut on Christmas day so if you plan your day out ahead, you won’t wake up in the morning, feel like pancakes and realise you’ve got no eggs. No excuses!
- Spoil yourself! Go all out, you don’t have to spend money on everyone else’s Christmas presents and big Christmas lunch, so buy yourself that dress you’ve been eyeing for weeks. Or maybe it’s that set of bbq tools you were hoping someone would buy you last year! or maybe it’s just a bottle of nice champagne.
- If you’re not into spending money on yourself, maybe spend your time on someone else. You could volunteer in your local community, or if you’re religious, in your place of worship. There are so many volunteer opportunities around, for example the Salvation Army’s Streetlevel mission.
- Even if you’re by yourself, go nuts with decorations! Christmas tree, tacky tinsel and fairy lights all over the place. Whatever your style is, go for it! Same goes for cooking, make some ginger bread men, or bake a fruitcake. Those smells wafting through the house will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.
- There are a plethora of Christmas movies out there, you can watch whatever you want! If you’re like my mum, you can watch Love Actually 4 times in a row! And no one will be there to stop you, or judge you! It’s your day, you do you!
- Sometimes a little change of scenery can make you feel a little less alone, so book a last minute getaway! You can take a quick drive up to the Blue Mountains, or get a last minute flight to Fiji! There are tonnes of affordable accommodation on websites like AirBnB.
- Or maybe you miss that dysfunctional family Christmas. Tag along to a friends Christmas! Maybe with their family, or it might just be a few friends. You’ll be the guest, so free food, you won’t have to bring anything except maybe a bottle of wine, and you won’t be expected to help clean up! Win win!
You can do whatever you want when you’re spending Christmas alone. So live it up!