Lonely At Christmas : How To Spend The Holidays All By Yourselves

lonely christmas | ChangeMakr Asia
Dealing with loneliness feeling during the holiday season.
The holiday can bring a full swing of emotions. While, the holiday season is generally associated with joy, warmth, cheer and togetherness, for many,  holiday season is also noisy and socially overwhelming.
 
The year of 2020 is also tough and challenging for many. The ongoing COVID-19 travel and gatherings restrictions cause mixed emotions during this holiday seasons. The economy has suffered and lives have been effected everywhere. Many miss seeing their family and loved ones who live far away, some loss of a loved or one end up staying home due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Enjoy The Christmas Alone without Feeling Lonely 

We are  all into the Christmas holiday season once again. Rather than be bummed about celebrating Christmas alone, discover how you can spend the holiday by yourselves without feeling lonely : 

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings 

Understanding and  recognising our  feelings and emotions are vital for our well-being. They are our body’s way of communicating with you about what is going on, for example, if you have been let down, you may experience anger, fear, and/or sadness. Being mindful and acknowledging out feelings help to reflect these feelings of loneliness, to see them for what they are : just feelings, They are momentary and fleeting, no matter how often they come up, and they will soon pass. 

2. Put Yourself First   

Being alone means you get to put yourself first. Take care of yourself. Put in the work to remind your body that you matter. You are the one that can love yourself in the ways that only you know how when you’re feeling down. Ask yourself : what do i need right now ? How can i make myself happier today ? How can I best make use of this moment in time ? What can i do to love myself and others unconditionally ?   Manage your expectations and stay realistic, hopefully  things become a lot more bearable. 

3. Explore outdoor  

Head out of the house for some one-on-one time with nature. Getting some fresh air can make you feel better (or will likely not make you feel worse). If you can’t or it’s not safe to go out. consider whether there is another way to you can move your body or be outside for a bit. Spending time in the natural environment can have a restorative effect.

4. Find Connection However You Can

It is tempting to just isolate yourself and become angry at the world when it feels like there is no one there for you. Reach out to old friends and family. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to initiate.
 
There are tons of people going through the same feelings of loneliness at the same time of the year. The internet has been helpful in facilitating these people to find a sort of refuge and helped them feel less lonely.
 
Choose to stay offline and unplug from internet world ? That’s okay ! Create a Christmas Card or little Christmas Gift for delivery, postal or essential workers. Let them know how appreciated and thought of they truly are. Goodness knows this has been a tough year and they probably won’t get the holiday off. 

5. Spend Some Time Volunteering  

Believe it or not, volunteering does wonders to our physical and mental health. The feeling of helping out will remind you that the world is bigger than anything happening at Christmas and festive seasons. It will also give you a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
 
Covid-19 pandemic means that volunteering over this period will be a slight different this year, but there are plenty of organisations that need help with the work that they do. 
We all know this year is going to be a little different, but that doest’s have to mean bad.  Have a merry Covid Christmas and holiday seasons !