How to be alone for the holidays
The holidays are supposed to be the most joyous times of the year. They bring people together and create a time and space for reminiscing the good times had with those around you. You all gather around the living room, bellies filled from a homecooked dinner, and express gratitude for the past and hopes for the new year.
So how the hell am I supposed to do that when I’m alone?
I’ve been thinking about it — how I’m going to make the holidays somehow decently okay while also being by myself. I’ve compiled a not-so-professional list of things you can do if you are also spending this jolly time by your lonesome.
- Accept that it’s going to be different.
This is the hardest part. If you’re going to enjoy the holidays alone, you have to come to terms with the fact that the season is going to look different than it used to. There’s less socialization, meaning that you have to find ways to participate in the holiday cheer on your own. Being alone can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be sad. Being alone can be thrilling — the world is at your fingertips. It’s all up to you. - Deck the halls.
Okay, I just mean that you should decorate. What seems to make the holidays stand out every single place you go (literally) is that everyone has some sort of wreath, light set, tree, or set of winter-related decor up. It can get a bit exhausting, to be honest. But I’ve noticed that when I’m surrounded by all of these holiday reminders yet come home to an apartment lacking them… it makes me sadder than I was before. Almost as if I can’t be a part of it, simply because I have no family to partake in the activities with. So I say decorate! Make it cheery! Make it somewhere that you would want to spend the holidays. - Create comfort.
It could be a movie, an album, a book… find your comfort and immerse yourself in it. My comfort is in the movie Perks of Being A Wallflower, and I take solace in writing. Especially when I do them at the same time. - Eat good food.
I promise you, eating a homecooked meal will make you feel ten times better than heating up a frozen dinner from Trader Joe’s. I know cooking can seem daunting at times, but it is so worth it. I have no idea how to cook, honestly, I just guess every night. But I have created amazing meals out of it and I always feel accomplished afterward. Maybe “it’s made with love” has more meaning than we know. - Keep in contact.
It can be really easy to isolate during this time of the year. It seems like everyone is getting together without you. It’s almost like you’re invisible. It sucks, I know. But this is when it’s so important to keep in contact with those close to you. Just a quick text or a weekly phone call can make such a difference. Even if you’re alone for the holiday, you don’t have to feel disconnected.
For anyone who will be alone — you got this. You can have a fantastic holiday. It WILL be different. But that doesn’t mean it has to be bad. Now go check out that recipe you pinned 6 months ago.
