Christmas is the season of love - we all know that. For most people, that's synonymous with time spent with family and friends. But not everyone spends Christmas Eve and the days right after surrounded by their loved ones. Because it isn't possible. Or simply because they don't want to. But what then?
A demanding Christmas season
For many, the Christmas season is emotionally demanding because it comes with expectations. Not just from family and friends who want to be visited, cooked for, and given gifts. The inner pressure to enjoy the Christmas days and be able to relax also plays a big role for many people. Preventing Christmas stress ahead of time can help with that. But for those who don't celebrate the holiday with others, the pressure may be even worse. It sounds strange at first, but: loneliness quickly brings gloom instead of contemplation, even when the distance from others is intentional. In that case, the thought 'I should be in a Christmas mood anyway and enjoy the days off' may weigh all the more heavily.
Alone together: get out among people
If it does start to feel a little lonely, seek out some company. Maybe some of your friends and acquaintances also feel the need for a bit of distance from the holiday at home. Between the holidays, various bars and restaurants are also open as a kind of meeting point, where everyone comes together who would otherwise either spend Christmas alone or simply want to escape the usual Christmas stress and enjoy a sociable evening away from family. Even complete strangers quickly connect there. It's best to find out what's going on around the holidays in your town. There are surely events here and there. If you want to go a step further and make direct contact, dating apps are also a popular escape from the festive hustle at Christmastime these days. But if you just want company without having to interact with people right away: when was the last time you were in a church? Even if you're not religious: the atmosphere in a church has something to offer, especially at Christmas. If the content of the sermon isn't your thing, enjoy the humble quiet and the architecture apart from matters of faith. And you won't be alone there, either.
The celebration of self-love - treat yourself to something!
Whether it's a choice or not: anyone spending Christmas alone should try to make the holiday as cozy as possible and do something good for themselves. Alone doesn't mean lonely, and self-love is a form of love, too: singles spending Christmas without a loving partner make the best of it. 'Treat yourself,' as younger people especially like to say these days. That can be a hot bath on Christmas Eve, streaming Die Hard on a tablet balanced on the edge of the tub (but be careful!), or a decadent feast that doesn't have to be shared.
Whatever distracts you and makes you happy, no matter how big or small. Do something good for yourself, every day! If you feel wanderlust and want to escape Christmas, why not think about a vacation over the holidays. Even if it's just a city trip. At least a small material gift to yourself is a must - that feels good any time of year.
Tips against the holiday blues
Make plans: sitting around aimlessly only feeds the loneliness.
Rein in your expectations: don't plan too much, then less can go wrong. You certainly don't need any disappointments.
Spoil yourself! With good food, for example. Why not cook something again. Then you're kept busy right away, you've accomplished something, and you even get to enjoy it afterward. A wonderful reward.
Fresh air helps - everyone knows that, and yet most people have to force themselves to go outside. When in doubt, you'll feel a bit better after a walk.
Stay in touch: even if it's just a call to old friends, a little closeness is a must. Maybe you know people who are alone, too?
Get out among people: go for a drink, go to church, or meet up with friends to make the holidays a bit more pleasant together.
Christmas depression? You're not alone!
It's not without reason that people also speak of Christmas depression or a seasonal depression in connection with the holiday. For anyone who already suffers from depression, Christmas quickly becomes a mental strain. Young and old alike regularly fall into an emotional hole, especially in the dark, cold winter. There are many other reasons, too: outside influences like reduced daylight and early darkness also contribute. Around the turn of the year, the number of people who fall into a deep life crisis therefore rises, and as a result, sadly, more of them also resort to drastic acts. Being alone makes it worse. A lack of distraction means more room for negative thoughts, and those seem all the more out of place during the season of love. If you know at-risk people in your social circle, a little attention in the spirit of compassion can already work wonders. Gently and understandingly check in on the feelings of those around you. Especially if you know that person has had a difficult year. That goes for family members just as much as for friends and acquaintances. Is Christmas a hard time for you, and are you affected yourself? At this point we can unfortunately only pass along the tips above and point you to professional sources of help, such as clinics and crisis services.
