Are you spending this Christmas alone? While it can be daunting, this lone festive break can open new ways for you to love, enjoy, and feel yourself and the world around you. In this blog, I’m going to help you add a bit more spice and fun to your singlehood to beat the Christmas loneliness.
Christmas is the one festival I look forward to all year. The color, climate, and charm of the holiday season make it irresistible to miss it.
Who doesn’t love snuggling under a blanket with a steaming hot chocolate, watching their favorite Christmas movie? I can do this all day during the holidays.
I start collecting Christmas books and adding Christmas movies to my watchlist as soon as the Halloween month begins. This time is a great opportunity for me to spend more time with my family and friends.
However, I do realize and know a lot of my friends who are stuck in different places during the holiday season. So many people have to spend Christmas alone for so many reasons. If you’re in a similar situation, I hope this blog helps you to enjoy and embrace your solitude. I am sharing more than 12 ways for you to embrace your singlehood and make the most of this Christmas alone.
How to Enjoy Your Christmas Alone? +12 Ways to Embrace Your Singlehood
It’s that time of the year again. The festive spirit and the magic of the season can really make you want to have a partner or just a friend to spend the holidays with.
The cuddles and snuggles can, sometimes, push you to the brink of loneliness and make you feel inadequate or unworthy for not having someone to share the holiday spirit.
But that’s not true. All of us are on our unique journeys and it’s completely fine to enjoy your singlehood and spend Christmas alone.
Is it Normal to Spend Christmas Alone?
Yes, it is completely normal to spend Christmas alone. According to statistics, 11% of the US adults spent their Christmas alone in 2021. Interestingly, 16% of them felt good about spending their Christmas alone.
Not everyone has the luxury of time and freedom. There may be a hectic schedule, or traveling issues, or climate problems. These are the most common and normal reasons why people usually end up spending Christmas alone.
Now that we have addressed the elephant in the room, let’s find out different ways to enjoy the holiday season while being alone this Christmas.
+12 Ways to Embrace Your Singlehood and Spend Christmas Alone
Spending a festival alone or without a partner is not a testament to your self-worth. As most people think that being alone during the holidays is no less than a curse, I believe it’s more about perspective here.
You can either let your loneliness overpower you and sulk over it and ruin the entire holiday season for you. Or, you can look at the positive aspects of the situation, indulge in your favorite holiday activities, and take this time to reconnect with yourself and use it more wisely.
If you belong to the latter group, then hop on, let’s dive into 12 different ways in which you can enjoy the feeling of spending your Christmas alone this holiday season.
1. Prioritize yourself this Christmas
First and foremost, be kind and compassionate to yourself. Spending Christmas alone doesn’t mean you will be alone your whole life. Thus, it begins with accepting your truth in time without comparing your situation with others.
If you are spending this Christmas alone, it is a great opportunity for you to prioritize yourself. Until now, I have spent all my Christmas alone curled up in my blankets at home. It is my introvert heaven.
And there are so many things I do to be in the festive spirit even when my partner is in a different state.
I usually enjoy a solo date night at home. Order my favorite food and indulge in my favorite holiday delicacies like a Christmas Cake.
You can also use this leisure time to pamper yourself in so many ways. Here are a few suggestions, you could use:
- Go out for shopping
- Treat yourself to your favorite food
- Gift yourself some holiday candles
- Decorate your house with Christmas decorations
2. Take a long walk
I’ve recently started my morning walks and I’m grateful to myself for taking that big step. Even if you don’t have time for daily walks, you can use this Christmas holiday to enjoy a long walk in the nearest public park.
This is a great chance to explore your surroundings and get to know about the beauty of your city. There are so many beautiful places in and around your city which are waiting for you to explore.
Take a long walk as you reconnect with nature. Fresh air hitting your face and walking without any gadgets will bring you closer to yourself. It will show why it is important to be still and do nothing sometimes.
You’ll have the time to reflect on your goals and failures. Cover yourself with something warm and cozy, and stroll around aimlessly. This will also refresh your mental and physical health while you enjoy Christmas alone.
3. Pick up that book you always wanted to read
I have a long list of books on my shelf that are waiting for me to read them. But during the holidays I like to turn to winter-themed books that transport you to a winter wonderland and make you feel cozy as you read them.
Winter is the best time to get the real essence of these cozy books. If you are spending Christmas alone, you have plenty of time to indulge in great books. Read Rom-coms, Magazines, and holiday-themed books.
I love reading magazines, especially the winter and Christmas editions. They offer eye-capturing visuals, cozy articles, and lots of inspiration for cooking or baking your favorite Christmas food.
4. Connect with your old friends
If Christmas isn’t the right time to connect with your old pals, then what is? I have a friend who started a new tradition four years ago when we were in high school. We all have to call and catch up in late December.
She is so disciplined and follows that tradition every year without fail. Though we talk or meet otherwise as well, none of us can let Christmas pass by without meeting each other. It is a special time for us. We talk, we gossip, share embarrassing stories, and laugh together. At the end of the day, we are not celebrating Christmas alone, we have each other.
I’m sure you have someone like that too. Connect with your old friend. Be vulnerable with them, open your heart, and start a new tradition this Christmas.
Remember, you don’t always need a partner to enjoy the festivities. Some good, old friends are all you need to “enjoy your Christmas alone”.
5. Write a letter to yourself
If you ask me what is the one thing that I will pass on to my future generations, then that would be writing a letter to myself. I have a big pile of letters that I have written to myself.
Writing a letter to yourself is a great exercise to know yourself better. This simple activity will open up new doors for you. You will understand the layers inside you and the depth of your emotions. You will bleed a lot of unsaid thoughts into the paper.
All of this will help you know yourself better than before. However, make sure you don’t type on a keyboard for this one. Use good, old paper and pen to feel the authentic essence of your words. Start writing whatever you want to express and continue writing until you feel calm and peaceful.
6. Pick up a new hobby
Have you ever considered learning a new hobby? This is the best time to start planning and implementing it. It can be anything like writing, painting, doodling, crafting, sewing or crocheting. Choose something that you will enjoy learning and doing.
You have plenty of leisure time this Christmas. Instead of crying that you have to celebrate Christmas alone, immerse yourself in learning a new hobby.
This won’t just give you physical evidence of spending a good time on Christmas but it will add to your skill set. It’s definitely a win-win for me.
7. Learn a monetizable skill
We live in a digital age where competition is ferocious. People are constantly working hard to upskill themselves. If you think it’s not the right time to learn a new monetizable skill, you risk falling behind in your career too.
Get your back off, do some research, and identify a monetizable skill you enjoy and love doing. Nerd off that topic and start getting into the action. Get started, and you won’t even feel like you’re spending Christmas alone.
This is exactly what I did last year. Before I got all serious about building my blog, I spent the holiday season educating myself about the business, creating my personal development plan, and learning better about it.
Here are a few new skills you can explore this year. Who knows they could turn into your career next year, just like it happened to me.
- Blogging
- Ghostwriting
- Graphic Designing
- Content Marketing
- Business Branding
- Video Editing
8. Do a year-end audit
This is something I have been practicing for the past 2 years. Performing a year-end audit keeps me busy organizing my life while helping me avoid that gut-wrenching feeling of feeling alone during Christmas.
An audit allows you to reflect on your life, celebrate even your smallest milestones, and gain a deeper understanding of the mistakes you made. You can:
- Celebrate both your big and small wins with your favorite food or some shopping.
- Acknowledge the people who have stuck with you throughout the year, and supported you directly and indirectly to push through your dreams.
- Create a vision board that visually plants the goals and aspirations you want to achieve in the coming year.
This brings me to the next point.
9. Brainstorm new goals to achieve the next year
As the year approaches the end, it’s also time for a new beginning. Setting new goals will keep you at bay from indulging in the negative feelings of spending Christmas alone.
Set your goals, personal, professional, financial, physical, and mental. Aim for realistic New Year’s resolutions. Create goals that complement your ethics and values but also allow you to break free from your comfort zone.
Here are a few you can consider:
- Giving back to your community
- Volunteering at a nearby NGO
- Taking a long solo road trip
- Learning a new skill
- Adopting a pet
10. Watch your favorite Christmas movies
Let’s be honest, the holiday season brings a lot of mood fluctuations. Some days I am this super-productive girl who is all about her work and her career goals. Other days I am just a little girl who wants to give it all up and enjoy her holiday break while watching her favorite Christmas movies.
This season is perfect for watching romcoms and classic TV series. To take a break from the feeling of spending Christmas alone, indulge in a movie marathon or binge-watch your favorite TV series.
I plan to watch “2 Broke Girls”, “Home Alone” (all parts), “Sex and the City”, and “Gilmore Girls” during the Christmas break. Don’t forget to prepare some hot cocoa and a platter full of snacks for enjoying the authentic Christmas Binge-watching.
11. Pay a visit to the nearby Church
If you are feeling bored celebrating Christmas alone, why not pay a quick visit to a nearby Church?
I do this every year and I can tell it works. You can never feel less under the divine’s roof. The devotion in the atmosphere makes it easy for you to surrender and give the wheel of your life in his hands.
Plus, there are many people in the church during Christmas, who may help you build a sense of community and engage with others in your neighborhood. You won’t have to miss out on Christmas traditions and festivities by sitting at home all day.
12. Clean your house
In India, Diwali celebrations are a mark of the annual house cleaning spree. You can do this on Christmas if you don’t do it on Diwali.
Cleaning your house is one of the most productive and mindful activities to indulge in during the Christmas break. It keeps your home cozy, welcoming, and free from negative feelings.
It’s the best way to declutter and organize your life, keeping you away from the feeling of celebrating Christmas alone.
Some Bonus Ways to Celebrate Christmas Alone
In addition to the above-mentioned 12 ways to celebrate your Christmas alone, here are a few additional ideas that can spice up the game.
- Go for a Hike
- Play Board Games
- Host a Virtual party
- Cook your favorite dinner
- Create a new Christmas Tradition
Christmas break is an amazing opportunity to know yourself better. This is the best time to enjoy leisure time learn new skills and watch more movies. Use this time to relax, rejuvenate, and re-energize yourself personally and professionally.
Conclusion
Being alone on Christmas is not as bad as people make it. As I said in the beginning, it is all about perspective at the end.
I hope with these tips and bonus strategies, you can easily make the most of your Christmas time without feeling any less of yourself.
I hope you found your idle way to embrace your solitude and singlehood and celebrate your Christmas with full cheer, even if it’s alone.
