Blogmas Day 17 – Surviving Christmas alone

Hellooooo merry readers! 

Today I thought I’d take off the bauble-tinted glasses around Christmas and talk about something a little more … whatever the opposite of merry is? Christmas can truly be a magical time of year, filled with so many sparkly, joyous things and activities, but what I think we often tend to forget is part of what makes these moments so special is that we spend them with our loved ones. However, what are you meant to do during a festive period that is all about doing things with your close friends and family when you’re alone for Christmas? That’s what we’re going to chat about in this blog post!

In a way, I’ll be spending Christmas alone this year. For the first time in forever, I won’t be with my family this Christmas due to COVID once again throwing a spanner in the works for international travel. So sadly, I’ll be 8000 miles away from my boyfriend, parents, grandparents, brothers and everyone else I usually spend Christmas with, which is going to be a weird, new experience. So because of that, I thought I’d do this little post for everyone else who might be alone during the Christmas period for whatever reason. I hope you enjoy it!

Dive into a good book (or a few) 

Nothing can help you escape from reality like picking up a book and falling into another world. If you have books that you’ve been waiting to read on your shelf, then now’s your chance, or maybe you can go browsing through your local bookstore or library for some inspiration. Whether it’s a Christmas book or not (although I tend to stick to Christmas books at this time), ploughing through some great books can be a really comforting way to spend Christmas, especially if you’re curled up with a mug of tea or hot chocolate under a fluffy blanket. 

Spread some holiday cheer 

Not to sound corny, but sometimes a great way to help you get through the holidays if you’re alone is to spread some holiday cheer. Volunteering in any way, one that connects with you, not only gives you something to focus on, but you’re doing something truly good and usually spending time with other people. It can fill you with warmth like a mug of hot chocolate and give you something positive to do and think about. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out my Blogmas post about Christmas Kindness here. 

Binge all the movies and shows you’ve had no time for 

Maybe this is just something that I like to do when I’m alone and don’t want to wallow in it, but Christmas is an opportune time to catch up on any and all movie/tv time you’ve been missing out on. Yes, it can be a bit of a couch-potato method, but it’s also very relaxing, and I think it’s a great way to get through the days in a peaceful, positive way if that’s something you enjoy. All you need is your pyjamas, some fluffy blankets, and an appropriate supply of hot chocolate and popcorn. 

Focus on things you enjoy and actually do them! 

When you’re alone, you can sometimes forget about doing things that you actually enjoy, so why not make a list of things that you genuinely enjoy doing and focus on those by actually doing them! Who cares if they aren’t Christmassy? By focusing on doing something that you enjoy, you’ll encourage yourself to stay in a positive mindset, and time will fly by – cause you’re having fun! 

Stay away from social media 

While I do love social media, it can often be a reminder of all the nasty, negative things like what you’re unhappy about with yourself or all the things you’re missing out on. I’m planning on doing a social media detox from next week because even though I’ve got some fun plans for Christmas, I don’t want the constant reminders from everyone else spending their time with their families or significant others when I have to cope with just digital communication. 

Fresh air and some long walks 

So this does counter my movie binge-watching idea, but it’s also important to remember that being a cave troll has never come with notable health benefits. Staying indoors in a bundle of blankets may be comforting, but it can start to get a bit sad, so don’t forget to go out and enjoy the fresh air, and maybe schedule some long walks? I promise it will be good for your head and health, and then you can get back to your pyjamas. 

Treat yourself to some self-love 

Self-love is so crucial, especially at this time of year and especially if you are alone. I suppose almost everything on this list could be considered self-love but every day or two, try to practice self-love by doing things that genuinely make you relax and love yourself. That could be treating yourself to a gourmet mug of hot chocolate (you can find recipe inspiration here), maybe having a luxurious bubble bath or anything else where you are prioritising YOU!

Cook some of your favourite dishes 

Food is memory, and food, for the most part, can also be very comforting. Soooo, why not use that train of thought to put yourself in the Christmas spirit, or just put a smile on your face by cooking some of your favourite dishes. They could be Christmas favourites, childhood favourites or something you’ve never attempted to make at home before – so long as it makes you smile! Plus, cooking itself can be a really therapeutic activity, and you get something delicious at the end of it too. 

Reach out and connect 

Last but not least, just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you have to be alone. You may not be spending Christmas with family or a significant other, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to friends and see who’s available this Christmas, even if it’s just for a coffee meet up or two, but maybe it will be for a big meal or something else fun. And if that doesn’t pan out, if this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how to utilise technology to spend time with loved ones we can’t see in person, so whip out that smartphone or laptop and reach out to people and connect. I know it’s not the same, but it’s better than nothing and can make all the difference. 

And so there you have it! I’m both sad to be spending Christmas without my boyfriend and family this year, but I’m also looking forward to starting new traditions of my own. My best friend has also invited me to spend Christmas with her and her family, so I won’t be all alone on Christmas, and I’m really excited to have that new element to the celebrations. So to all of those who may not be spending Christmas with those they’d hoped to be with this year, I truly understand how crummy it feels, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get to still enjoy Christmas. I really hope this post gives you some hope and inspiration, and if you are alone this Christmas, please reach out. I’d love to chat with you – we can be ‘alone’ together!! 

Lots of love

Blondey on a Mission xxx