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- While being single during the holidays comes with its challenges, it doesn’t have to be a lonely or painful affair—and you don’t have to hibernate until Groundhog Day to get through it. With a little ingenuity, you can absolutely DIY a “family” of your own making by connecting with friends new and old.
www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/12-ways-to-create-holiday-community-when-youre-a-family-of-one12 Tips to Create Community During the Holidays, Even If You ...
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Sep 12, 2024 · Staying connected when you’re single during the holidays isn’t only about spending time with other people. It’s first and foremost about you. Enjoy the smart, interesting and talented person you are. Carve out time to develop your unique contributions.
- Overview
- 1. Have a Friendsgiving
- 2. Enjoy a movie marathon
- 3. Check out local events and celebrations
- 4. Host a grown-up gingerbread house party or cookie exchange
- 5. Spearhead a Secret Santa
- 6. Give back to your community
- 7. Attend a holiday service or retreat
- 8. Host a wrapping session
- 9. Get a shopping buddy
Real talk: The holidays don’t exactly cater to single people.
The usual activities of feasting, gift-giving, and general gathering ’round aren’t so easy to do when you don’t have a traditional family to fall back on.
After all, parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow usually require some other folks to join in on the cheer.
While being single during the holidays comes with its challenges, it doesn’t have to be a lonely or painful affair—and you don’t have to hibernate until Groundhog Day to get through it.
With a little ingenuity, you can absolutely DIY a “family” of your own making by connecting with friends new and old.
If Santa can fly solo (literally) and still bring the world good cheer, so can you!
A “Friendsgiving” is a Thanksgiving dinner celebrated with friends rather than family.
The idea has steadily gained traction in Millennial and Gen Z culture. According to a survey by Collage Group, 43 percent of Millenials, 39 percent of Gen Z-ers, and 31 percent of the overall population participate in a Friendsgiving event.
Your social circle will probably be only too delighted if you decide to host a Turkey Day feast without the family drama.
If you don’t have a standard gathering to attend on other holidays, there’s no reason you can’t extend the concept for a Friends-mas, Friends-ukkah, or Friends-zaa, too!
Is it really the holidays if you don’t have a movie marathon?
On the other hand, sitting solo in front of the TV might not give you the same warm fuzzy feelings you’d get as part of a group.
You can invite friends or a roommate to join you for a holiday movie session, complete with popcorn and eggnog.
To experience the cheer with loved ones far and wide, consider having a “watch party.” You can simply connect via a video call or use an app made specifically for this purpose, like WatchParty, Teleparty, or Rave.
For those who live in a metro area, there’s almost always something to see, do, or attend during the holiday season.
If your social calendar is feeling a bit sparse, check local listings for activities that will get you out of the house—preferably with a friend. Get a buddy and head to a tree lighting ceremony, a local screening of It’s a Wonderful Life, or an arts and crafts fair for some unique shopping,
Don’t live near a bustling urban center? Your community likely has some events—however modest—to put you in the holiday mood.
Even low-key traditions like ice skating or looking at lights displays can spark the spirit and provide an opportunity to socialize.
Did you ever make a gingerbread house in your youth?
Even as an adult, you can still slather your very own mini-mansion with a blizzard of frosting, gum drops, and peppermints with a more grown-up twist!
For a whimsical gathering with friends, host a gingerbread house-making party complete with adult beverages and creative toppings.
Of course, if you’d like something a little more practical, there’s always the option for the more traditional cookie exchange instead. Each person bakes several dozen of one type of cookie, then creates a varied mix from all attendees’ baked treats.
Don’t overlook your workplace as a source of community.
Try making the office a more joyful place this season by organizing a gift-giving event like a Secret Santa. You’ll bring your co-workers together in a light-hearted, secret agent-style gift exchange—and you might earn some brownie points for taking the lead.
To invest in your community and lift your spirits, there’s nothing like serving others.
Research from 2020 shows that volunteering is associated with positive changes in well-being — a welcome effect at the holidays.
The great part about being single: You get the say-so in where you’d like to serve!
Will it be a soup kitchen? A women’s shelter? A nursing home? Choose an organization whose mission you feel good about supporting.
Even if you’re not a religious person per se, there are still options for gathering in community for holiday services.
The Unitarian Universalist Association is a non-denominational organization that welcomes people of all faiths and walks of life to celebrate the holidays—and every day—together.
Many locales also have meditation centers and retreats where you can gather without belonging to a particular religious group.
If religious faith is a part of your holiday observation, now’s the time to gather with fellow believers. It’s OK if you’re not a regular attendee of faith-based services. You can still make it a habit during the holidays.
Plus, you may experience some surprising benefits from doing so.
A 2020 study found that recent research demonstrates that religious involvement can enhance mental health, prevent the development of mental disorders, and aid in their treatment.
Everybody’s gotta wrap, right?
For a cozy night in, invite a handful of folks to join you in a wrap session. You can even be extra nice and provide some essentials like tape, scissors, and snacks.
While wrapping presents solo may feel like a chore, doing it in a group can be a ton of fun.
You can even get crafty and start with plain brown wrapping paper, holiday-themed stamps, and washi tape. The possibilities are endless!
Early on in a friendship or dating relationship, it can feel awkward to invite someone to a gathering as intimate as a party or movie night.
If you’re new to a relationship, keep the stakes low with a casual invitation to do some holiday shopping together.
The very nature of shopping comes with built-in conversation breaks—a great way to hang out without constant pressure to chit-chat.
Plus, there’s always something new to look at, laugh about, and connect over.
- Sarah Garone
Dec 20, 2022 · The most wonderful time of the year can also be the loneliest. Here’s how to cope if being single during the holidays is bumming you out, according to experts.
- Hannah Smothers
People are ready to mingle and if you’re at the right place at the right time you might be able to create some holiday magic of your own. (Protip: always carry mistletoe.) Below are 10 ways you can go about taking advantage of the holidays to meet a new single someone.
- Accept the Fact that you ARE Single and Embrace the Good Parts of “Single-hood”. Don’t allow thoughts or feelings of desperation to seduce you into doing things that do not fit with who you are just to find a partner.
- Meet the Holidays with Realistic Expectations. You may fantasize about your hopes and dreams for the holidays, however, it may only BE hopes and dreams.
- Share the Holidays with Others. This may be a good time to spend with another family … or not. Sometimes when you are with others who are connected, it only makes your connections more noticeable.
- Develop an Attitude of Gratitude. Rather than focusing on what is missing, pay attention to the goodness present. Begin a holiday gratitude journal by writing each night about what you are grateful for that day.
Dec 7, 2021 · Here are some of my suggestions if you’re single during the holidays: Find groups of singles that are getting together and participate in their activities. Many groups are now meeting in person as well as online. Host a party for your friends and have them invite someone of the opposite sex to expand your network.
Nov 13, 2019 · How does one joyfully embrace their single status during the holidays? You become "selflessly selfish." Here are a few ways to make being single not just bearable, but totally enviable...
