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New Year’s Eve is a holiday that in the minds of most is associated with a warm family dinner or a noisy party, and therefore those of us who have no one to spend this night with can feel especially loneliness. Here are some ways to brighten it up.
1. Reconsider your attitude to the situation
Perhaps it so happened that on the eve of this New Year you found yourself cut off from relatives and friends — for example, because you found yourself in foreign lands. And perhaps, in principle, you have no one to celebrate this holiday with.
Are you sure that “as you celebrate the New Year, so you will spend it”, which means that 365 days of loneliness shine for you? Remind yourself that this is just a saying with no basis in fact.
Do you think that something is wrong with you and that “all normal people have company”? Remind yourself that tens or even hundreds of thousands of people have been in the same situation as you, which means that this is a fairly common situation.
2. Reflect on the passing year
The evening of December 31 is a great time for such reflections; if you were in the company of other people, you would not have such an opportunity. Remember all your achievements, even the smallest ones, and praise yourself for them.
If it seems to you that the year was a failure in all respects, think about what can be improved or changed in the future.
3. Make New Year’s Resolutions to Yourself
Where there is time for deep reflection, there are promises. Do not strive for global changes and material acquisitions — think about how to start changing internally, gradually, step by step, so that you can meet the next New Year with a happier person. For example, you can promise yourself:
appreciate yourself and your achievements more;
work on your self-esteem and self-confidence;
try to lead a healthier lifestyle: sleep better, walk more;
learn to face your fears and not avoid frightening situations;
if necessary, seek help, including from specialists;
work on relationships with others.
4. Pamper yourself
A fragrant foam bath, self-massage, a delicious dinner delivered from your favorite cafe — do something that you haven’t had enough time and energy for a long time, or maybe you were sorry for the money.
It’s a good idea to give yourself a gift for the future: to plan something nice. For example, a trip to a place where you have long wanted to visit, or a trip to a performance.
5. Read a book
Do you like to lie on the couch with a book, but could not afford it for a long time because of the amount of work? Arrange yourself such an evening right now. Why, the evening is there — the whole night: tomorrow you won’t have to get up early, which means you can read a fascinating novel even until morning.
6. Accept the invitation
Perhaps you have long been invited to a party or a visit on December 31, but you refused — for example, because you did not want to be in an unfamiliar company or come alone to a place where there will be entirely family friends. Know that it’s never too late to change your mind. Treat it as an opportunity to work on your social skills or to be with people you enjoy and are interested in.
7. Watch a movie
Any — related to the New Year and Christmas theme, or a movie or series that you have been putting off watching for a long time. You can throw yourself a themed night, like Friends Night, The Big Bang Theory Night, or any of your favorite TV shows.
8. Schedule a call to loved ones
If the feeling of loneliness is very acute, but you have friends or relatives with whom you can phone, arrange this in advance. You can be together on a video call, listen to the chimes and congratulate each other.
So you will feel belonging to a large group, and the time spent on mutual congratulations will surely fly by.
10. Do something familiar
In the end, New Year’s Eve is just a night, and only we ourselves endow it with a special meaning. You can skip this and spend the evening like any other: cook dinner, or meditate, or take a bath. Don’t force yourself to come up with something special if you don’t feel like it.
We are accustomed to believe that the New Year is a special holiday, and treat it with trepidation. It is not surprising that if things deviate from the intended plan or from our idealistic ideas, this causes us anxiety and deep disappointment.
Don’t fall into this trap. It’s up to you to decide what «should» or «shouldn’t» be this night. And the fact that you spend it alone does not exactly make you worse than others.