Christmas Home Alone?

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Don’t hang your head just because you’re spending Christmas alone this year, instead enjoy it. Even if you spend the Holidays alone, you are not alone. 

Many people celebrate Christmas with their own company for a variety of reasons, such as family disputes or the loss of a loved one, work obligations, financial problems, travel costs, divorce, separation, or because they don’t want to celebrate the holiday itself.

For me, it’s very interesting. If I had to name or list my favorite Christmases in my lifetime, the ones I spent alone would be high up on my list. I think about it every year about this time and still, so many years later, I remember them all. How can this be?

Why do they rank so high on my Best Christmas List?

From nineteen to twenty-two, I had three Christmases just for myself and I reacted a lot like Kevin in Home Alone, just a bit older. To not forget the child inside you, perhaps that’s the trick to making a Christmas, spent alone, a success. My Grandma had passed away a year earlier and I would meet my husband three years later.

I lived in Vienna, Austria, lived in a small apartment, had not much money and a lot of Holiday ahead of me. So many years ago, yet still so present in my memory.

I believe there is also no wrong answer to the question of how to spend the big day, that’s the beauty of a solo Christmas. Get the pictures of the “Happy Family” that commercials, books, and movies sell us perfectly, get these out of your head. Yes, they do exist, but not for all. Millions spend Christmas alone every year and many enjoy it.

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Look at it this way, it’s your chance to do exactly what you want to do –without fear of family disputes or obligations. Spending Christmas alone can even be a good thing.

Whether you’ve chosen to stay alone because the loss of a loved one has left you with no choice, or if go through a separation or a divorce, loneliness can quickly become frightening, if you give it too much room.

Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, why not be able to enjoy the contemplative time in your own company? You just need to find the right style that suits you and you need to plan ahead.

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How can I enjoy Christmas alone?

First of all, don’t decide not to celebrate Christmas this year –unless you never celebrated it anyway. Skipping Christmas is a bad idea, ask the Kranks.

If you treat the holidays like any ordinary day, I believe you could end up feeling depressed very quickly. In hindsight, you will most likely give it anyway. That’s why you should simply prepare yourself extensively in advance. Shop for everything you need and try to enjoy this act a little already. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate a little, treat yourself! It helps to think of the day as an extra birthday, for example. Another day where everything revolves around you and your wishes –without any compromises because you don’t have to take anyone else into account.

Buy yourself something nice
Splurge a bit, treat yourself to a wellness program or a spa
Exchange ideas with other singles, get together
Cook yourself a nice meal, set the table nice
Dress up nicely, you deserve it
Go to a concert
Become an elf and volunteer
Go to church, if that’s what you like
Go for a long walk
Binge-watch the shows or movies you always wanted to
Read a good book
Adopt an animal from a shelter IF it fits into your life every day

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If you don’t celebrate Christmas anyway, why not use the day to enjoy some relaxation? Just like any other non-working day, you can stay in bed for as long as you want, take care of some paperwork, and most importantly, dedicate some time to the things that make you happy outside of work. Is there a movie you’ve been wanting to watch for a long time? Or haven’t you had time to listen to your favorite singer’s new album yet? Maybe you have a creative project that you’ve been putting off for a long time. Now is the right time for all these things!

What should my Christmas alone look like?

What does your perfect “I can do whatever I want” meal look like? Cook just that! And don’t be afraid to experiment! On this day, you, and only you, are one hundred percent in control. This is the moment to expand your culinary experience, how about a slow-cooked venison roast? You might as well go the other way. When was the last time you had fish fingers with spinach and mashed potatoes? Reliving childhood memories is always a wonderful thing.

There is also no reason to neglect the usual traditions. Because they give us stability and a general feeling of comfort. The most important rule is, above all, that you should please stick to real food. No, a bag of chips is not dinner. And certainly, you don’t have to drink two bottles of wine -one will do.

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The optimal time for a little me-time

As I said, this is the perfect opportunity to pursue all your passions and/or hobbies. Do things that make you happy. If that’s sports, get out your yoga mat or weights and start sweating. Maybe December’s cookie consumption will motivate you even more. Read the novel that’s been on your shelf for months, and when you’ve finished reading it, read another one! While television is perfect for instant stimulation and distraction, a book will spark your imagination and take you on a journey. And now the most important thing…put your cell phone away. You won’t miss a thing.

What to do when the feeling of loneliness seizes you?

An occasional hint of loneliness or melancholy is inevitable. Unfortunately. Allow yourself to really feel your emotions, allow yourself to feel what you feel. The day itself can bring mixed feelings, so accept and allow this to happen. Letting our emotions run wild helps us process what’s going on inside us, even when it’s difficult. Maybe it will help you to take some time and write down those feelings.

We all have ghosts sitting on our tables, some of us from an early age on. We will always miss the people we lost but we should also be grateful that they were in our lives.

Enjoy Christmas music!

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