People face Christmas alone for different reasons.
The death of a loved one, work arrangements, distance or divorce may all mean that you look like spending Christmas – and the festive season – solo this year.
This prospect can be the source of anxiety and heartbreak for many – at a time when others are celebrating the love and family connections in their lives, you can’t help but concentrate on what has changed, or what is missing.
But individual Christmas doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, and you don’t need a big family gathering to soak up the spirit. Here are our tips for coping with, and even enjoying, Christmas alone.
Get into the spirit
After a life changing event, many things will be different in your world, including family traditions like Christmas. If you are struggling to cope with these changes, you may want to dig your heels in and ignore Christmas altogether – nothing will be the same, so why bother?
This response is only setting yourself up for sadness and an increased sense of isolation across the festive season. Instead, keep the spirit alive by decorating the house, putting up a tree and ironing your trusty Christmas shirt. Although this Christmas alone will be different, it doesn’t have to be unhappy. Give yourself the best chance of a joyful festive season by doing your best to embrace the Christmas cheer.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great cure for Christmas loneliness for a few reasons: it allows you to connect with others, feel a sense of purpose and reminds you that you aren’t alone in being isolated at Christmas time. Even though some aspects of your life may not be perfect, volunteering is often a humbling experience that can hammer home the significance of all that we have to be thankful for. Consider lending a helping hand with the Salvation Army, giving out food with Meals on Wheels, cheering up kids in the local children’s hospital or even popping in to visit the elderly in nursing homes. Volunteering is a truly rewarding experience that can brighten your Christmas and lift your spirits.
Take invitations
When friends extend an invitation to join their Christmas celebrations, it is often our first instinct to decline. We don’t want to impose on their special day, and worry that they have invited us out of guilt or sympathy rather than a genuine desire for us to be there. Attending another’s Christmas celebrations may also feel shameful – who wants to go to an event and spend the entire time explaining to other guests that they had nowhere else to go?
But remember that your friends aren’t inviting you out of pity. If anything, their willingness to accept you into their day shows that they know and love you enough to trust that you can handle the ramblings of Aunty Meryl on top of Uncle Bob’s fart jokes. Overcome your self-conscious response to immediately turn down an offer and accept the invite to Christmas lunch – you will be glad that you did.
Bring together friends who are spending Christmas alone
Know of a few friends, family members or co-workers who will be facing Christmas alone as well? Why not bring everyone together for your own Christmas Day celebrations?!
Organising a gathering of fellow lone-rangers doesn’t have to be a big effort on your part – if you don’t want to be slaving in the kitchen for hours simply name a time and place and ask everyone to bring a plate. Not only will this give you a social occasion to look forward to on Christmas Day, but also take your mind off other worries while you plan the event. Best of all, you will be doing your friends a favour!
Be pro-active in your community
There are always community events like carols and nativity plays around Christmas time, and the organisers of these events are inevitably looking for a helping hand. Get involved in a community project, start your own or simply help your neighbour hang his Christmas lights. By boosting your sense of connection to your community you will combat the feelings of isolation that tend to creep up when you are spending Christmas alone.
Organisations like the Salvation Army also put on community lunches across the country for those riding solo.
Treat yourself
Sometimes, facing Christmas alone is unavoidable. Make an effort to enjoy the day. Prepare your favourite meal, get yourself a present, plan out a movie marathon or go for a swim at the beach to soak up the sunshine.
