5 Ways to Spend the Holidays Alone
It may sound oxymoronic, but if you are spending the holidays alone, you are not alone. According to a 2023 study by the American Psychological Association, 89% of U.S. adults report feeling stress during the holiday season, and a sizable chunk of those surveyed cited missing family or loved ones as a key cause of that stress. If you’re flying solo this season, read on for five ways to make your own holiday cheer.
Celebrate Friendsgiving Friends-mas
Who says you have to celebrate the holidays… on the holi-days? Free yourself from the cage of the calendar! If you’re the only one of your friends sticking around for the holidays, rally your friends before they leave town for an early-to-mid December secular holiday celebration! Mull cider or wine, play music, and be merry. And as for the “actual” holiday? Been there, done that.
Watch a Holiday Television Special
The Muppet Christmas Carol. Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas. A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter. The Great British Baking Show: Holidays. If you’re one for a good media gimmick, there’s an infinite number of holiday television specials, old and new, with your name on them. Don’t get me wrong, holiday movies are great, but there’s something uniquely silly about the campiness of a holiday special, especially a musical one. And if you’re not one for holiday cinema, you can just as easily binge watch a TV show of your choice.
Spa Day
Take self-care to the next level with a holiday spa day, in the house or in the wild. If you’ve got the time and resources, a holiday alone is an excellent time to treat yourself to a trip to a spa day, or even just a quick mani-pedi. If you’re ballin’ on a budget, CVS is just as good! Grab a face mask, a salt scrub, a bath bomb, and a candle. Brew a mug of tea, turn on some relaxing music, and take a nice, long soak in the tub. Just don’t forget to moisturize! It’s getting cold out there!!
Start a Solo Tradition
It only takes one person to make a tradition. If spending holidays alone is a norm for you — as it is for many people — why not start a holiday tradition of your own? Make that spa day an annual event. Take a solo road trip. Order takeout from a specific restaurant. The important thing isn’t what you do, but that you have something to look forward to when the winter holiday chaos hits. No unpleasant or stressful surprises for you this season! It’s smooth sailing from here.
Volunteer
Chances are you already know this, but if you’re spending the holidays alone, it is true that others are spending the holidays alone, too. If you’ve got the time this holiday season, consider getting out of the house and volunteering in your community. The winter is a big time for food, clothing, and toy drives, as well as community meals and other service events. Do some research and get involved! There’s community all around you, you just have to look for it.