Getting Through The Holidays Alone As A Solo Traveller

Getting through holidays alone doesn’t have to feel lonely. In fact it can be the perfect time to reconnect, rest, and create new traditions. Even though many solo travellers prefer to travel on their own, that doesn’t mean that they are loners. In fact, many solo travellers are what many would consider to be extroverted. So when it comes to spending holidays alone, it can be a difficult task.

If you’re one of those people who will be spending the holidays alone, it’s important to remember it’s okay not to be okay. As a person who has spent many holidays alone, I’ve discovered a few ways to make the holidays more memorable. In this post, I’ll share my tips with you. Hopefully by implementing a few of these tips, your holiday season will be more enjoyable and you’ll feel less lonely.

Coming from a very large family with 7 siblings, the holidays were always a chaotic time in my household. In later years, I lovingly carried on the family traditions my mom created with my family of 3 children, and later, my grandchildren.

The holidays were always full of laughter, cheer, and of course, holiday music. Then real life happened! A few years ago, my family began getting smaller. I divorced my husband, both my parents passed away, 2 of my children passed away, and my one surviving daughter lived in another city an hour and a half away.

The holidays changed. My daughter and I attempted to create new memories and traditions which worked great – until she had to begin sharing her time with her partner’s family. It was then that I began finding myself alone for much, but not all, of the holidays. Was it difficult? You bet it was – it was heartbreaking for me. But then I learned to change my mindset and create ways that I could get through holidays on my own, which I’ll share with you.

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Acknowledge Your Feelings – All Of Them

It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions during the holiday season at the best of times. One minute you may feel sad, and then the next you might feel peaceful. It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions during the holidays, but when you’re spending it on your own, these emotions are exacerbated.

The key to getting through holidays alone is to acknowledge these emotions without getting down on yourself. There are several ways that I’ve found help me through this:

Giving yourself permission to feel your emotions is the first step toward finding comfort.

Create Your Own Traditions

Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean that the holidays have to be bland or empty. This is the time to create your own traditions – or maybe carry some old traditions forward.

The following are some of the traditions that I’ve created for myself that might also work for you:

Plan Something To Look Forward To

At times, it can feel like the holidays last forever, especially when you’re alone. Having plans either big or small can help break up those long periods of time.

I always try to plan one item on my bucket list to do during the holidays. Some of the things that I’ve done to make the holiday season feel a bit more special are:

Having one thing planned that you wouldn’t normally do will give you something to look forward to and help you to get through the holidays alone.

Stay Connected In Ways That Feel Good

Staying connected to friends and loved ones during the holidays will help you feel supported and less alone. Thankfully with social media, connecting with others is much easier that it used to be. Some ways to consider staying in touch are:

Social connection can be exhausting, so only do this if you’re feeling the need to connect with others.

Limit Your Holiday Triggers Will Help With Getting Through The Holidays Alone

Not every holiday tradition or activity will feel comforting or less alone. For example, if this is your first holiday alone after losing a loved one, certain songs, movies, or social media posts will likely trigger sadness. It’s okay to step back from all of the holiday excitement. Several ways to do this are:

Lean Into Rest And Relaxation

Spending the holidays alone gives you the rare gift of time. This is your time to slow down, reflect on the year behind you, and set goals for the year ahead.

Take this rare opportunity to focus on self-care by:

Do Something For Your Future Self

When you’re alone, it’s easy to slip into the “just get through it” mode. I’ve been there, but with a shift of mindset, I figured out ways to “just get through it” by focusing on accomplishment and the future. How did I do it?

By doing these, you will have a feeling of accomplishment and will have something to look forward to in the new year.

Remember – Being Alone Is Not The Same As Being Lonely

Many solo travellers choose to travel alone just because it’s their preference. Spending the holidays alone doesn’t mean there is something wrong, it means your path looks different right now. Or as solo travel, some people may choose to spend the holidays alone. There is nothing wrong with that, you’re allowed!

Getting Through The Holidays Alone

Getting through the holidays alone can be tough, but it can be, and has been done. Often times the anticipation of spending the holiday alone is much worse than when the holiday actually arrives.

If you’re struggling, try some of my tried and true solo holiday survival tips and let me know if they worked.

If you’re a solo traveller navigating the holidays on your own remember to be kind to yourself. And to others – be kind, it’s not always the happiest time for others.

Happy Holidays 🙂

SAVE SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS ALONE