Introduction
As someone who has dealt with loneliness in the past, I know how hard it can be to feel alone during the holidays. Even though you may have family and friends around, there’s nothing like being alone on Christmas day when everyone else is celebrating with their families. But what if you could get through those long and lonely days? What if there was a way to make them less painful? Here are my tips for making your holiday season easier:
Avoid social media.
It can be tempting to spend time scrolling through your social media feed and seeing what everyone else is up to, but this can make you feel more isolated. Social media is great for keeping in touch with friends, but it’s easy to get lost in the false sense of community that comes along with oversharing and creating an idealized life online.
Instead of spending all winter scrolling through feeds, try setting a limit on how much time you spend on social media each day—and when that time has passed, leave it behind for the rest of the day! Not only will this help keep your mind off feeling lonely (since there’s nothing worse than catching yourself being jealous of someone else’s vacation photos), but it will also allow you some time for yourself without the distractions of technology.
Keep busy, but don’t push yourself too hard.
- Keep busy, but don’t push yourself too hard.
You can start any holiday with a plan and a goal in mind. You might want to write a letter to your loved ones, or get through a book that you’ve been meaning to read for weeks. You might even want to go on an adventure of some sort—a hike, or even just exploring your neighborhood at night when the streets are empty and it feels like something out of The Walking Dead (no spoilers!). But whatever you do, make sure it’s not going to leave you completely exhausted on Thanksgiving Day. It’s easy for things like this to become all-consuming—you don’t want your holiday alone turning into an escape from reality instead of an escape into it!
Have a plan for the holidays.
The first thing you should do when planning your holidays alone is to make a plan. This can be as simple or as detailed as you want, but it’s important to have some idea of how you will spend the holiday season. There are three things that I suggest:
- Plan your holidays for the week.
- Plan your holidays for the month.
- Plan your holidays for the year.
Volunteer.
Volunteering is a great way to meet other people and help the community, but it can also be a great way to boost your self-esteem. If you’re feeling lonely during the holidays, volunteering might be just what you need to feel like a valuable member of society again.
You can volunteer at your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter if you want to help people who are less fortunate than yourself or donate items from your home that could be useful for someone else in need (such as clothing, toys, and books).
Volunteering also allows us to learn new skills that we might not otherwise have tried out if we weren’t forced into doing so due to a lack of other options available on the market. You may find that volunteering has opened up opportunities for future jobs or even led directly into employment after graduation due to their positive experiences working with others during their free time on weekends or evenings during high school!
Try a new activity.
During holidays, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. If you’re feeling down, it can be helpful just to try something new. It doesn’t matter what the activity is: go for a walk around your neighborhood, learn how to knit (or crochet), sign up for an improv class or join an adult sports league. You could even visit a museum or go on a hike! You’ll be surprised by how much energy and enthusiasm this simple change of pace will give you.
Join Wine Tour
- Join Wine Tour: Join a wine tour in your city or any other city of your choice like this wine tour bus in Adelaide. You can also travel with a group of friends or even alone. If you want, you can also book a trip with strangers who share your interests, as this will provide an opportunity for new friendships.
- Travel With A Partner: If you want to travel with someone, then plan a vacation together with your partner. This way, both of you can enjoy the holiday without worrying about being alone at home during holidays like Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
- Travel Alone: If none of the above options are suitable for you and traveling alone is something that makes sense in terms of budget and time constraints then go ahead and do it!
Rent a Holiday Home
Renting a holiday home is a great way to make your holidays more enjoyable. Holiday homes have all the amenities you need, plus they’re cheaper than hotels. They’re also more comfortable, for obvious reasons!
If you haven’t tried renting a holiday home before, now’s the time to start here holiday home rentals in Merrijig.
Book a Day Spa
Get a massage.
Nothing says “I have time to myself” like booking a day at the spa on a day spa in Sunshine Coast. You can opt for one of their signature massages, getting your blood flowing while they work out all those knots in your neck and back that have been there since college (or earlier). Or you can get both a massage and a facial—they call it the “Total Body Renewal Treatment” and we think it sounds like just what you need!
Holidays can be lonely, but if you have a plan, try new things and keep busy, it can make it easier to get through those hard days.
Holidays can be lonely, but if you have a plan, try new things and keep busy, it can make it easier to get through those hard days.
If you’re going to spend the holiday alone, here are some things that might help:
- Stay focused on your plans for the day. Plan something fun for yourself; maybe go see a movie or take a walk in the park or go shopping at the mall. Then when you get home from your plans, think about what else there is to do that evening and make sure not to fall into an endless loop of watching Netflix until bedtime (it won’t help). Give yourself an incentive each night after doing something productive during the day like “I will buy myself a treat tomorrow if I go out tonight” or “I will watch one more episode before turning in.” This way you’ll feel accomplished without being too overwhelmed by all of your responsibilities!
Conclusion
So, there you have it—our top tips for surviving the holidays alone. It’s not an easy thing to do, but with some careful planning and a bit of organization, you can make sure your Christmas and New Year are as happy and enjoyable as possible. Remember, if all else fails, just remember that the best things in life are free (and, sometimes, cheesy!)
