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Key Takeaways:
- Holidays alone can still feel meaningful when you plan simple rituals that fit your values and energy.
- Create structure with a proactive intentional schedule: for instance, meals, movement, one small outing, and a connection touchpoint.
- Nurture mood with light, music, comfort food, and a project like baking, crafting, or memory journaling.
- Reach out early, join a community meal, volunteer, attend a service, or host a short video call with family or friends.
- Protect wellbeing by limiting triggers, setting kind boundaries, and preparing a backup plan if emotions run high.
It’s that time of year again where everyone is getting together with their friends and family to celebrate the holidays.
But what if you’re not able to do that? What if you’re spending the holidays alone this year?
Rest assured, you’re not the only one.
There are plenty of other people out there who are in the same boat as you. In fact, as many as 11% of Americans spent the holidays alone in 2020.
Whether it’s due to Covid, living alone, or any other circumstance, believe it or not, spending the holidays alone can actually be a really great experience.
You get to do what you want when you want without having to please anyone else. So if you’re fighting the loneliness this season, don’t worry – spend it y(our) way.
Here are eight coping tips to help you make the best of spending the Christmas holidays alone.
And if you realize you’re riddled only by negative emotions, take a step back and reframe your attitude with our next tip.
So put on your festive sweater, have some fun with it and indulge yourself without feeling guilty.
After you get clear on your end goal, take consistent micro-steps in that direction. And consistency is the key word here.
It’s not about setting the typical New Year’s resolutions and letting them fly high on the priority list for a month or so and then falling flat. It’s about taking an incremental and intentional daily micro-step.
Why not try to set a goal today? It doesn’t have to be huge or daunting, just something small and exciting that gives you energy when you think about achieving it. Build from there and see where it takes you.
#1 Acknowledge Your Feelings
When you’re spending the holidays alone, it’s only natural to feel a range of emotions — from loneliness and sadness to happiness and even peace. Acknowledge your feelings, whatever they may be, and give yourself the space to experience them without judgment or avoidance. Recent research shows that feeling mixed emotions and “taking the good with the bad” can improve your health.
And if you realize you’re riddled only by negative emotions, take a step back and reframe your attitude with our next tip.
#2 Practice Gratitude
Brighten up your season by practicing gratitude. This simple yet effective practice can leave you feeling cheerful immediately. Studies show that expressing gratitude and visualizing your best possible self immediately boosts your mood. So why not take this time to reflect on all the good things in your life, and look forward to celebrating those things next year? Better yet, make a list of things that make you happy. And then do them one-by-one. Of course, it goes without saying, we recommend our magical micro-stepping process.#3 Make it Magical
Don’t shy away from making the holidays feel magical, even if you’re the only one who’ll see the decorations (apart from your Facebook friends, of course). Play some old holiday hits and decorate your home to lift your spirits. And then cozy up on the couch with Christmas classics and a cup of hot cocoa (Grinch also works if you’re in a mood). Finally, give yourself a present. Yes, actually wrap it up and open it on Christmas day. And if you feel silly giving yourself a gift, whether a memorable personalized gift, luxury item, or self-care splurge, don’t worry; you won’t be the only one to treat yourself. In fact, 25% of adults treat themselves for Christmas every year.
So put on your festive sweater, have some fun with it and indulge yourself without feeling guilty.
#4 Prioritize Self-Care
You don’t have to spend your time moping around in front of the TV. Or sitting at home with nothing to do. And if you’re tempted to do so, try to focus on self-care and connecting with yourself. There are plenty of ways for you to take care of yourself during this season and still be able to enjoy all that the season has to offer. It could be as simple as reading a book you’ve been eager to read, journaling and reflecting on the year, planning out some exciting activities for the future, spending a few extra bucks to treat yourself to a special meal, or finally catching up on your sleep. Whatever it may be, taking care of yourself will go a long way toward helping keep your emotional health in check this season. You deserve self-love, so don’t slack on self-care.#5 Set New Goals
Sometimes all you need to do is find clarity. Take this as an opportunity to set new goals. Think about one thing you want to achieve this season. Don’t set lofty, unattainable goals. Follow the SMART method instead.
After you get clear on your end goal, take consistent micro-steps in that direction. And consistency is the key word here.
It’s not about setting the typical New Year’s resolutions and letting them fly high on the priority list for a month or so and then falling flat. It’s about taking an incremental and intentional daily micro-step.
Why not try to set a goal today? It doesn’t have to be huge or daunting, just something small and exciting that gives you energy when you think about achieving it. Build from there and see where it takes you.
