I love holidays. Halloween is by far my favorite but you’ll never not catch me in the Christmas spirit. And as for New Year’s Eve, well, I’m still young and won’t turn down a good party. Valentine’s Day becomes Galentine’s Day if I’m single, and how can I resist a good birthday celebration for a friend?
But this year Christmas was a little different for me. I was scheduled to work. My family, that being my mom as far as immediate family goes, lives out of state. This was very different from last year when I got to visit her and bring home a significant other, all of this was a wonderful experience with those I cared about especially since I had just lost my dad two months earlier.
Was I gearing up for tears this year? Maybe. But fortunately, I made the best of it by hanging out with friends on Christmas Eve. And by some Christmas miracle, I only had to clean two kennels that morning at the animal shelter where I work. All of this was followed by eye masks and some light-hearted Netflix when I got off work before heading to a homemade meal at another friend’s house. I did miss my mom, but fortunately, I had so much fun with friends that I was too distracted to be sad or mournful for last year’s Christmas.
While I may have had fun with friends, I realize that not everyone might be as quick to rally on Christmas day without family. If that’s the case, here are a few things you can do next year if you anticipate spending the holidays on your own:!
Check out local events
There are tons of people out there who don’t go home for Christmas. For one, money is tough these days. A lot of Gen Z’s and Millennials don’t make enough to save up to fly home. There are also plenty of people staying in town for Christmas to avoid dinner table arguments about any number of hot topics. But if your friends are out of town too, try looking into local events. Many cities will have Christmas Day events like movie screenings or trivia. A quick Google search of what’s going on in your area could bring you from boredom to joy in a matter of minutes.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Party!
If you’ve got friends in town, why not have a few over? I had never hung out with friends on Christmas but it was a blast! Maybe having a small potluck and board games could fight the Christmas blues and make for a good time.
Go to the Movies
Movie theaters are almost always open on Christmas. Why? For exactly the reason this article exists: Not everyone has plans for Christmas. Going to the movies is as much a tradition for Christmas loners as Christmas dinner is for families. So, treat yourself to a double or even triple feature this year.
Treat Yourself at Home
If all else fails, treat yourself to some rest and relaxation. Scheduled to work? No problem. Prepare ahead of time by getting your favorite snacks, movies, and a warm blanket lined up for when you get off. Try out some new hair and face masks too if it makes you happy! As long as you’re making yourself comfortable that’s what counts.
Schedule a vacation for yourself.
If you can, schedule yourself a little getaway. It’s an age-old trick if you don’t have family to visit or don’t want to visit family. So many people take themselves on a trip during the holidays. If your friends don’t have family to visit either see if they might be down to travel with you. If you live somewhere without four seasons this might just be your best opportunity to see snow. Or if you live somewhere where you’re sick of snow by December 25 maybe a balmy climate is just what you need.
Read a book, go for a walk, play solitaire or anything else that makes you happy.
There’s never been a better time to pursue your hobbies or pick up a new hobby to distract yourself from holiday heartbreak. Love to read? Always wanted to finish that puzzle? Well, now you might just get that downtime that you’ve been wishing for.
It doesn’t have to be a blue Christmas or holiday season. While these examples may not alleviate loneliness entirely, they could serve as a good distraction. I was a little sad that I didn’t get to see my mom, especially since what I had last year felt so special. And yes, it is somewhat sad for me to be single on a holiday meant to be shared with someone I care for. All that said, I ended up having a great day regardless. A few days before I even got my first-ever Christmas tree as an adult and it made my Christmas morning a little brighter.
Just know that the holidays don’t last forever and there’s always the next year. You’re not the only person spending the holidays alone or without family or even the only one reading this article - at least I hope not! Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and see what they are doing. Even my friends who are in serious relationships were willing to take me in so I wasn’t a Christmas loner. And, I’m happy that I reached out. Maybe next year I’ll get to see my mom or have a significant other. But for now, what I can say is that I had a fun Christmas nonetheless.