The holidays can be a tough time for many people. If you will be alone during the holidays and are feeling low here are some things you can do to take your mind off things.

Tips for Being Alone During the Holidays

First Things First…

Invited Somewhere? GO!

• It might be tempting to bail on your plans and stay at home, but this might actually be making things worse in the long run. You might feel sad and isolated because you aren’t having fun with the people you care about. Give it a shot, you might have more fun than you anticipate and you can leave whenever!

Plan Around Your Triggers

• Be proactive and plan around your triggers. Don’t avoid the holiday season, plan ahead!

Unplug

• I know this is really hard but eliminating or minimizing social media can make you feel a lot better. Most people only post the great parts of their lives, so it can be easy to compare your life to theirs and feel dissatisfied. Try a day (or a few hours) without social media, see how you feel before and after.

Try Something New

• Engaging in the traditions you have carried out all your life can remind you of things you’d rather forget. Instead try new twists on your holiday traditions to avoid those memories. For example make something different for dinner, watch a new christmas movie, hangout with different people, listen to different songs, shop at different stores, etc.

20 Fun Things To Do Alone During the Holidays

1. Volunteer

Soup kitchens are usually full of volunteers this time of year. Instead maybe volunteer at a retirement home, bring cookies and have a chat. Or try to volunteer at the local animal shelter.

2. Take a walk at dusk and see the Christmas lights

Fresh air and exercise will brighten your mood.

3. Go on an adventure

Open a map of your city, close your eyes, and point to a place on the map. Walk or bus there  there and see what you find.

4. Treat. Yo. Self.

Paint your nails, have a bubble bath, buy yourself a present

5. Movie Marathon

Being alone means you don’t have to be embarrassed while you cry through Toy Story 3

6. Try some yoga

Yoga with Adrienne has a wide range of free yoga tutorials for all levels and moods

7. Write and send a letter to someone you love

This can help you feel close to your loved ones no matter where you are

8. Get up to date on what happened this year

Search for the Best TV Shows, Best Movies and Best Albums of the year

9. Get creative

Make use of the empty streets and take photographs. You can even set up the self-timer and walk away because no one will be around to steal your camera.

10. Fast Forward to summer

Turn your room into the beach, with fruity drinks, watermelon slices and cocktail umbrellas, and watch movies about the summer.

11. Pay it forward

Do 3 good deeds

12. Be a kid again

Create a fort out of pillows and blankets, and spend the day inside doing what you love best.

13. Feast!

Make a holiday feast, keep it all to yourself or visit a restaurant that is open- bring a book and relax.

14. Host an “orphan christmas”

You probably aren’t the only person who is alone on the holidays. Ask around and invite people over to have a potluck

15. Exercise your brain

Try sudoku, a puzzle or a word search

16. Make a bucket list

This will help you start the new year off right!

17. Learn something new

Want to know more about sustainable cities, how to run a coding club, innovation in the fashion industry, how to build android apps, how to kickstart your career or shipwrecks and submerged worlds? Check out these free websites: Coursera and Future Learn.

18. Make a postcard for Post Secret

If you haven’t heard of Post Secret check it! It’s a great way to release some pent up emotional energy.

19. Clean out your closet

Start the new year off right by cleaning and rearranging your space. It’s not much fun while you do it but the payoff is worth it!

20. Read

Have some books you’ve never finished? Now is the time!

Let us know if you tried any of these suggestions out and how they turned out!

If you are still feeling low and need someone to talk to don’t hesitate to call the following helplines:

ConnexOntario Mental Health Helpline 1-866-531-2600 or mentalhealthhelpline.ca
Good 2 Talk 1-866-925-5454 or good2talk.ca
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or kidshelpphone.ca