They say that the holidays are a chance to spend time with family and friends. A lot of people might be insanely busy during this time period, planning parties, dinners, and nights out. While it’s definitely a good idea to gather with your friends and family, sometimes you just want to be alone. It could be that your friends are out of town, or your family isn’t one for Christmas, or maybe you’re away this Christmas, and you can’t reunite with the important people in your life. Or, perhaps you simply want to do something by yourself for a change. Whatever the case, here are some solo activities to try out this holiday season:
- Hot Chocolate and a Movie
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This is probably my favourite thing. There’s nothing better than snuggling into your bed (or whichever comfy nook you prefer) in some nice pjs while it’s cold and snowy outside, with a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows, prepared to watch a Christmas classic. My movie recommendation? Home Alone!
- Skating
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In my humble opinion, skating is one of the best sports the winter season brings. Grab some skates (or rent them) and take your spot on the ice. It can be fun to joke and fall with friends, but when you’re on the ice yourself, see just how much you can learn! Before you know it, you could be doing gorgeous axel jumps.
- Gingerbread Architect
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Gingerbread house-making is a lot of fun. When you’re with your friends, you can do little contests with a bit of friendly sabotage here and there, but when you’re by yourself… you can go all out! Buy yourself as many gingerbread house kits as you can afford and plan out your utopia. You will be the gingerbread king (or queen)!
- Decorations DIY
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The holidays bring a plethora of decorating opportunities. You can make your own ornaments, wreaths, garlands, figures, countdown-calendars, and whatever else you can think of! Choose whichever one suits your fancy and go all out. Paint your house red, white, and green!
- Treat Yourself to Dinner
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Whether you make yourself a little something special in the kitchen, or you choose to go out, show yourself a nice time. Heck, even if you want to order a burger meal from McDonalds with some specialty holiday drink, go ahead! It’s nice to treat yourself every once in a while.
- Volunteer
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The holidays typically see a boom in volunteering and donations. Whether you choose a soup kitchen, an animal shelter, or a senior center, share a bit of love and happiness during this season. It can be the best of times for some, and the worst of times for others, so it’s important to show some kindness. And even after the holidays are over, it’s a good idea to continue to take part in volunteering.
- Take a Walk (and Build a Snowman)
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There’s a reason “Winter Wonderland” is a successful song! Though it’s cold, the landscape of winter can truly be an ethereal wonderland. Even if you don’t like the snow, snow, and snow everywhere, you might really enjoy seeing all the lights and decorations people put up. Make sure to bundle up and build yourself a snowman too!
- Learn a Christmas Song
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Many people play instruments and the holidays are a perfect time to put those talents to use. Play “Carol of the Bells” on piano, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” on guitar, and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” on violin! Even if you don’t play an instrument, walking around singing or humming a Christmas tune can be a lot of fun! Might I recommend “Last Christmas”?
- Bake Christmas Cookies
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One great Christmas tradition involves baking and decorating some cookies. Get yourself a sugar cookie recipe (or any cookie you like—it’s up to you!), a few fun cookie cutters (there are some cool ones at the dollar store), and some icing. Go crazy! You can make a reindeer, Santa Claus, or his elves. Or, you can go completely off script!
- Get Yourself a Gift
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Spoil yourself a little bit! It’s always nice to get a little gift during the holidays, and with holiday specials and sales, it could be a nice time to spend a little bit of money on yourself. But you don’t have to adhere to the Christmas timeline when it comes to getting yourself a gift—if you’d like, wait for Boxing Day for all those post-Christmas deals!