5 Ways to Fight Loneliness During the Holidays
Alone on the holidays? It happens. We can't always be with the ones we love. Distance, previous commitments, arguments over the holidays.. a number of factors can lead to having to spend these normally festive times alone.
So what can you do to make things a little easier and fight the melancholy that comes from a lonely holiday? Here are a few ways to help keep that loneliness at bay.
1. Resist the Urge to Drink
Drinking on the holidays when you are alone is not a good idea. Alcohol can intensify feelings and at the same time it is impairing your judgement. It might temporarily cheer you up but rest assured that tears will be coming later. It is better to save those beers or liqueurs for sharing at another time.
2. Volunteer for a Homeless Shelter
Helping others can be immensely rewarding. If you are going to be alone then why not do something that will give you a little purpose and satisfaction? During holidays, many homeless shelters will need volunteers to assist in serving meals, decorating, and cleaning up and this is a way by which you can fill your time and share it with others who may not want to be alone on the holidays either. Some people derive enough satisfaction from this that they decide to volunteer every year. Try for yourself and see!
3. Realize that you won't always be alone on the holidays
Relax. Just because you are alone on the holidays this year doesn't mean that you will always be. Sometimes when we are lonely, it is easy to think that it is something that could last forever. It won't. Allow yourself to relax and to enjoy this time by yourself. Sometimes the silence and time alone can be a blessing if you let it.
4. Attend a Local Holiday Event with Others Like You
Sometimes, restaurants and pubs will hold their own festive events in anticipation of attracting business from people like you who are spending their holidays alone. These can be great fun. One popular example some bars have used is the 'I hate valentines day celebration', where men and women who aren't spending their Valentine's with someone special, can mix and mingle with others to be cheerful instead of feeling bitter. Get out of that house and check around your area. You will be pleasantly surprised with what you find.
5. 'Own Your Alone' - Get Creative with your YOU Time
What we briefly touched in the third point of this article is a fact. Allowing yourself to have fun can make all the difference. There are things you can do that are interesting. Drive to a new city and spend a day out in the town. Take it a step further and fly somewhere new. Filling your vision and mind with unfamiliar sights is a great way to think less about being alone and more about having a good time.
Have you ever gone fishing on a holiday? Ever gone to 6 fast food places to get one favorite item from each for a no-cook feast? There are a number of things you can do to make that lonely holiday more interesting and unique. Get creative and have some fun with it. Just because you alone don't mean that you have to be miserable.
These are just a few of the ways in which you can fight loneliness during the holidays. We know that it's no fun when you have to spend them alone but if you use these tips then you may find yourself having a much better time than you were expecting. Just be sure to allow yourself that option. Happy Holidays!
