Spending the holidays alone? Here are some ideas to help.
Not everyone spends holidays warmed by a fire surrounded by friends and family. For some, the day can be rather lonely. Maybe you’ve experienced a loss and can’t be around people, maybe your family is far away, or maybe you’ve had to set healthy boundaries to be away from toxic relationships. Whatever the reasons may be, if you end up alone on the holidays, you might find yourself riding an emotional rollercoaster.
Take time to acknowledge your feelings. It’s ok to feel whatever you are feeling. There is no right or wrong way to spend these last few days of the year and no right or wrong emotions to experience. Give yourself permission to take care of all the parts of you, emotional and physical.
Here are some ways to enjoy the day just yourself.
Volunteer at an animal rescue - cats and dogs still need care even on holiday days when most of the employed have Christmas day off. Volunteering at a rescue to help feed and care for animals, while giving the staff a much-needed break, can be a great way to spend your Christmas morning. Snuggling with animals will give you a serotonin boost naturally and you’ll leave jolly-ier than when you arrived.
Try something new - cook a new dish you’ve never cooked before, buy yourself a new book or puzzle, or try something you’ve never tried before like building a birdhouse. Set the day apart by giving yourself a task that will keep your mind busy and something new to make the day feel different from other days.
Make the day special for you - have a favorite Christmas cookie? Favorite Christmas movie to watch? This day can be about comfort even when you are alone so treat yourself to someone extra special.
Make sure to reach out - There are so many digital ways to connect with others and there are so many people who would love to hear from you. So send a Christmas text, make a Merry Christmas phone call, or face-time a loved one. Tell someone that you care for them in some way and that will make the season feel a bit brighter for that other person.
Tackle some of your 2022 projects - Those pictures need to be framed that have been sitting in your closet. That hole in your shirt needs to be sewn up. Whatever is on your mental (or physical) to-do list, try to finish something on the list. It will make you feel accomplished before entering the new year and it always feels good to cross off things on a list.
Relax - Never feel guilty about just not doing anything. Feel free to binge your favorite shows or read all day. Christmas day is truly the only time of year when most of the world shuts down. You won’t receive any work emails to stress about. You can just truly relax. And maybe, that’s exactly what your body needs to reset itself for 2023.
