How to embrace being alone this festive season
Christmas is soon approaching which for a lot of people, is a magical time of year. But how to embrace being alone this festive season is a question I have been asking myself. Growing up, the festive period has felt absolutely wonderful. As the years have gone by, the people around the table has gotten smaller each year. That’s part of life though isn’t it?, tomorrow is never promised for anyone. As each year passes a loved one is ageing another year.
Christmas is not the same for every person
Not only that everyone’s walked different paths in life or have circumstances making this Christmas feel more tough. A break up can make the festive season feel lonely. Being new to the area can also contribute. Not having family around is another reason for loneliness during this time of year.
There is often pressure to feel happy, organized and generally okay at Christmas. That pressure sometimes makes things even harder, making you feel forced. The important thing to learn here is to do things which make you happy. Normalizing embracing things alone has been a personal lesson for 2024. At the beginning of this year, my life was completely different and so was my mindset on my own situation.
Embrace being alone can be a powerful mind shift
The age old term ‘Glass half full or half empty’ has a lot of truth to it. It leaves a lot to think about. Being optimistic in situations can shift your mind set on the situation you find yourself in. Pessimism has always come easy to me, not always through choice. I started gratitude journals to see more good in my life. This habit has greatly improved my outlook on life a lot.
Sometimes those cheesy life phrases hold a lot of truth when you think about it. The ‘Life is what you make of it’ phrase has been told to me countless times over the years. When I was struggling a lot more, this term would annoy me. I just couldn’t see or comprehend how anything that would even slightly change my outlook on the situation. After a lot of growth and therapy, I realize that my choice of feelings about a situation affects my mood. My mood can change completely based on how I look at it alone.
Useful links for being more comfortable alone
- Top 10 books about solitary living
- Alonement Podcast by Francesca Specter
- Article about loneliness around Christmas by Papyrus UK
I hope this post has helped you see the potential mindset you can adopt this Christmas. If you are struggling, please reach out for help from NHS or a charity like Samaritans.
Remember to be kind to yourself, always.
Sincerely, Abbey x
The holiday seasons are always so tough for many people but I really liked what you said about our choice of feelings about a situation affects our mood. I’ve been alone during holiday seasons too but I try to embrace it and make the most of my winter break doing activities with or without friends.
This is such great advice. Christmas can be a difficult time for some, but it can often be forgotten by others.
The holidays can be difficult for some people. It is important to find a way to work through those difficult moments. One way is to find things you love. Thanks for sharing.