The holiday season is associated with joy, happiness, and family life. But for many people this season is full of stress, worry, sadness, loneliness… If this is your case, there are some recommendations that can help you manage this situation in a better way:
1. Identify and recognize your feelings, allow yourself to feel:
Not every moment will be happy and bright when you spend the holidays alone (or even when you spend them with other people), and that’s okay.
You may want to avoid anticipating how you will feel, but you can be ready to embrace however that is.
Making space for your emotions, even the less pleasant ones, can be part of the healing process that the holidays offer.
Maybe spending these days alone gives you space to express your feelings freely.
2. Be grateful: A gratitude journal is a great way to start.
You can start by writing down all the things you are grateful for, from the most basic everyday things to the most existential. There are many benefits to establishing a regular practice of giving thanks.
Expressing gratitude can help you appreciate what you have, focus on the positive aspects of life, and see the good in others. It can also help you heal.
Practicing gratitude can improve your overall health and well-being, as well as help with feelings of loneliness.
3. Give yourself a gift:
We normally give gifts this season, but why not give something to yourself? The “gift” can be a thing or an experience, something you like, that gives you joy and peace.
4. If you feel lonely then connect with other people:
- Instead of focusing on the people who are no longer with you, let’s shift the focus to the people around you.
- You can call some friends you haven’t seen and organize a meeting;
- Attend a local event,
- Participate in volunteer activities for people who need different types of help;
- Help out at a local animal shelter;
5. Change your expectations:
TV shows, movies, and now social media are constantly showing you images of what an “ideal” holiday season looks like. Because of this, it can be easy to feel like you’re not up to par when spending the holidays alone.
But there is no single way to experience the holidays.
In fact, let’s think for a moment about all the ways people spend this time around the world. Not all cultures involve similar family gatherings, gifts, and rituals. People have found other ways to commemorate these dates.
Looking at the holiday season from a different angle can help you remove emotional pressure. It may be helpful to reevaluate your expectations of what the season will be like instead of what it should be.
What if this is an opportunity to experience something new and different? How would you approach it as an adventure? This doesn’t mean you have to approach it with a festive attitude, if that’s not how you feel. But it might mean seeing it as an opportunity to do and experience what you need right now.
If you’re going through a tough time, you might view the holidays as a time to take care of yourself and heal.
If you’re away from loved ones due to travel or relocation, you could see it as “the year I did something different” and perhaps immerse yourself in local traditions and events.
The exercise is to see these few days as a new experience that will not last forever. It doesn’t have to mean anything specific. It can be whatever you want it to be.
