How To Spend Christmas Alone: 71 Things To Do By Yourself This Holiday

Who says you need company to celebrate? Here are 71 things to do by yourself this Christmas.

Whether it’s by choice or not, spending Christmas alone doesn’t have to be lonely.

In fact, many would say that’s it’s fun and liberating to enjoy the holiday by themselves.

No crowds. No pressure. No overwhelm.

And most importantly, no family drama.

While some of you reading this might still want to be part of the festivities — which is absolutely normal — it’s important to remember that most of these desires are conditioned by society on how holidays should be celebrated.

Remember, you don’t have to follow societal norms and expectations. You have the freedom to define your own holiday traditions and create a meaningful experience that resonates with you.

Use this alone time as a unique opportunity to create your own traditions, enjoy moments of self-reflection or self-care, and discover new hobbies. Let go of any preconceived notions about spending the holidays alone and open your heart and mind to the joy of your own company.

71 Things To Do By Yourself On Christmas Day

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1. Enjoy breakfast in bed in your favourite silverware
2. Search for last minute flight deals and fly out on Christmas Day
3. Volunteer at a local charity or food shelter
4. Write a letter to Santa Claus
5. Write a letter to your future self
6. Do a month by month deep reflection of your year
7. Make a gingerbread house from scratch using your favourite candies
8. Challenge yourself to build a lego set in one afternoon
9. Set your New Year goals and resolutions, and create a step-by-step action plan on achieving it
10. Go online shopping (many Boxing Day sale starts before the 26th)
11. Review the vision board that you made at the start of the year
12. Celebrate all the big and small achievements that you’ve made during the year
13. Create a vision board for the New Year
14. Do a visualization meditation of how you’d like your New Year to look and feel
15. Create a scrapbook of all the highlights that happened this year

16. Write a list of things that you’d like to see and experience in the New Year
17. Dress up in your favourite winter outfit
18. Pamper yourself from head to toe
19. Decorate your home with a winter aesthetic
20. Turn off your phone for a full day
21. Review and journal your year, including lessons learned and goals achieved
22. Listen to your favourite Christmas playlist
23. Video call your family and friends to wish them happy holidays
24. Declutter your home ahead of the new spring schedule
25. Go for a stroll in your neighbourhood and enjoy the festive lights
26. Find out what restaurants are open in your area and go enjoy a solo dining experience
27. Create a word that represents your New Year
28. If it snows on Christmas Day, go out and make some snow angels and snowman
29. Make yourself an extra hot chocolate drink (give it a spike, if you like)
30. Do a Christmas movie marathon with favourite classics like Home Alone, Elf, or It’s a Wonderful Life. Don’t forget to enjoy it with your favourite snacks and drinks

31. Do a craft art that can be completed in one day
32. Enjoy a full day of no screens (TV included)
33. Write a letter to yourself from one year ago
34. Make your own mulled wine from scratch
35. Spend an afternoon baking cookies, cupcakes and pies
36. Decorate your space with lights, ornaments and festive colors
37. Checkout your local Facebook groups or Eventbrite for nearby Christmas events
38. Spend your Christmas at city that don’t celebrate the holiday
39. Read a book of your choice whilst enjoying a glass of sparkling wine or non-alcoholic beverage
40. Donate money to a good cause
41. Sleep in for the whole day
42. Do that thing that you’ve always wanted to do this year but never got the chance to do it
43. Review your current workout routine, and create a new one for the New Year
44. Enjoy a full day of no social media
45. Enjoy a day of doing absolutely nothing

46. Write an ingratitude list of all things that happened this year, wrapping it up with a letter of forgiveness to yourself and your next steps going forward
47. Do a self-care routine that involves mirror work and positive affirmations
48. Create your bucket list for next spring, summer, fall and winter
49. Go over your closet and remove all clothes that you no longer wear for donation
50. Revamp a room in your home
51. Try a new recipe using only 5 ingredients
52. If you have pets, do an at home photography session with them
53. Challenge yourself to complete a 1000 jigsaw puzzle in one day
54. Cook a special holiday meal just for yourself
55. Do a deep journal reflection about your year
56. Write a list of all things that you appreciate about this year
57. Do an at home karaoke and sing as loud as you like
58. Start yourself a new solo Christmas tradition
59. Gather friends or family who are also spending Christmas alone to join you
60. Treat yourself to a long bubble bath with scented candles and champagne

61. Take an online morning class related to an interest or hobby
62. Visit a place of your interest that’s open on Christmas Day
63. Treat yourself to 1-day Christmas staycation
64. Take yourself out for a drive around the city. Feel the quiet serene and beauty
65. Do a full day of your favourite TV or movie series marathon
66. Create an indoor at-home Christmas picnic by the fireplace
67. Fix all the broken items around your home
68. Sit in silence and listen to your body for cues and messages
69. List all your guilty pleasures. Pick one and treat yourself
70. Spend a few hours at nursing or retirement home, chatting with older people over tea and biscuits
71. Do a Christmas yoga flow, followed by a meditation session

10 Tips On How To Spend Christmas Alone

Spending Christmas alone doesn’t have to be lonely or sad.

But it’s understanding if you feel this way, especially living in a culture or society that has a strong emphasis on festivities, gatherings and celebrations. Here are 10 tips to help you navigate your time alone on Christmas.

Remember, these tips aren’t meant for survival but they are design to help you thrive during this holiday season.

1. Embrace your feelings
   It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions during the holidays, especially on Christmas Day. Don’t brush aside or ignore those feelings, as they can return stronger later making things much worse. Instead acknowledge on the spot. Consider journaling those feelings to help you better process those emotions.
2. Create a holiday schedule
   Plan your day ahead of time. Start searching for activities you’d like to do on Christmas. Maybe it’s an at home spa treatment or volunteering at the homeless shelter. Whatever it is, create a schedule and prepare the necessaries so you won’t wake up to Christmas feeling disengaged or like you have nothing to do (though nothing to do could be a plan of it’s own too).
3. Treat yourself
   Go easy and be good to yourself. Treat yourself like a royaly (which you should be doing everyday by the way). Indulge in your favorite meals, snacks, drinks and activities. Don’t hold yourself back.
4. Connect virtually
   Just because you’re alone on Christmas it doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to friends and family. Text them or give them a video call. You could also consider joining online virtual events and connect with strangers from other parts of the city or world. Who knows, you make a new friend, meet a potential client or even find love.
5. Volunteer or give back
   There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back, especially during the holidays. Whether you’re donating money or volunteering your time to those in need, helping others is a great way to lift your spirits and provide a sense of purpose.

6. Start a new tradition
   Forget about old traditions, get creative and create your own version of holiday traditions. Think of what you want to see and experience. This could be anything from reading a book, watching a movie, or even starting a new recipe.
7. Engage in hobbies
   Alone time is the best time to do the things that you love, and going solo on Christmas is no different. Whether it’s a hobby or a particular winter activity, immerse yourself in that experience. Not only will you have tons of fun, but you will feel a sense of fulfilment and make new discoveries about yourself.
8. Forget festivities
   Ignore what society and traditions say you should do during the holiday season. Focus on what you truly enjoy and make your Christmas your own. Christmas should be about what makes you feel happy and fulfilled, not about following expectations.
9. Reflect and journal
   Take time to reflect on the past year. Write down your thoughts, feelings, and hopes for the coming year. Journaling can provide clarity and a sense of accomplishment.
10. Explore your city and neighbourhood
    Find out what’s happening around your city on Christmas Day and join in on the fun. This is a great way to explore the city and make new connections. Alternatively, you could go for a walk or a drive around your neighbourhood to see the local holiday lights and decorations.

By focusing on activities that bring you joy and connection, you can create a meaningful and memorable Christmas, even when spending it alone.

A Solo Christmas

Christmas alone is a unique opportunity to enjoy your own company and do the things that you love. It’s also the perfect time to create your own traditions and discover what this holiday celebration truly means to you.

Have a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

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