Winter has a way of slowing everything down. Darker evenings, colder days, and long stretches indoors can make even the most independent women feel a little lonely. And if you’re a solo traveler, expat, or someone used to movement and freedom, winter can feel heavy when that rhythm suddenly pauses.
If you’re spending the season on your own, whether traveling solo, living abroad, or staying home between trips, that quiet can sometimes turn into loneliness. You’re not imagining it. Winter is the time of year when loneliness genuinely spikes, particularly for women who live alone, travel independently, or don’t have built-in seasonal routines or family close by. As someone who has spent multiple winters traveling solo and living abroad, I know how confronting this season can feel when movement slows, routines disappear, and your usual sources of connection aren’t around.
For many solo travelers, this is intensified by the nature of independent travel itself; moving frequently, lacking long-term seasonal anchors, and often relying on travel as a way to feel grounded, connected, and emotionally regulated. When that movement pauses in winter, the absence can feel heavier than expected.
But you don’t have to simply get through the winter or wait it out until your next trip, even if that’s something many of us have done that at times. There are gentle, realistic ways to feel less lonely during the colder months, whether you’re on the road or completely grounded at home even if you are completely alone. Winter can still be a season of meaning, small adventures, and emotional steadiness, even if it looks a lot quieter than the rest of the year.
This post walks through ways to feel less lonely in winter as a solo traveler, whether you’re traveling, living abroad, or grounded at home between trips. You’ll find practical strategies I’ve used myself to stay emotionally connected while traveling, cope with wanderlust when you can’t go anywhere, and create comfort, routine, and micro-connections at home. These are simple, supportive shifts that will help winter feel softer, calmer, and far more manageable, wherever you are.
Why Loneliness Hits Harder In Winter Whether You’re Traveling Or Not
Winter loneliness for solo travelers often comes from reduced daylight, fewer social touch points, paused travel plans, and disrupted routines. It can feel heavier than other seasons, and there are real reasons behind it. Understanding why loneliness hits harder during this time can help you show yourself more compassion and make intentional changes that support your wellbeing.
Shorter Days And Less Sunlight
When daylight disappears early, your energy naturally drops. Reduced daylight has been shown to affect your mood, sleep, and energy levels. It becomes harder to stay motivated, social, or upbeat, and much easier to slip into a quiet, withdrawn state without realising it.
More Indoor Time Means Less Social Interaction
Cold temperatures, icy sidewalks, and rainy days often keep people indoors. Social plans get postponed, everyone stays home more, and casual interactions fade away. If you live alone, that shift can feel especially noticeable because your usual connection points are suddenly reduced.
Holiday Season Pressure
Even if you enjoy spending time on your own, the holiday season can amplify loneliness. There’s a cultural expectation to be surrounded by family, partners, and friends, and social media only reinforces that narrative. It’s completely normal to feel the contrast when your life looks different from the festive highlight reels you see everywhere.
Tiredness And Emotional Overwhelm
Winter can be emotionally draining. The combination of darkness, busyness, and seasonal stress means you might feel more tired and overstimulated than usual. When your energy is low, loneliness becomes easier to slip into, even if nothing in your life has changed.
Money Pressure And Stress
Winter and the festive season bring extra expenses of heating bills, travel plans, winter clothing, and general cost-of-living pressures. When your budget feels tight, you naturally pull back from social activities, and that can unintentionally increase the feeling of isolation.
Emotional Strategies To Feel More Connected As A Solo Traveler
Feeling less lonely in winter isn’t just about getting out of the house more. It’s also about nurturing your emotional wellbeing and building small, meaningful moments into your days. These winter loneliness tips focus on emotional wellbeing, gentle routines, fun activities and small moments of connection to help you stay grounded, supported, and more in tune with yourself when the season feels heavy.
Acknowledge Your Feelings Without Judgement
Loneliness isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s simply your mind signalling that you’re craving connection or comfort. Acknowledging how you feel without guilt, shame, or pressure to “fix it immediately”, is the first step to easing that emotional weight. Giving your emotions a name reduces their intensity and helps you feel more in control. Try reflecting gently with questions like:
- What exactly am I feeling right now?
- What do I need more of today; rest, connection, comfort, stimulation?
- What small thing would make me feel supported in this moment?
Build Micro-Connections Throughout Your Day
Not every connection has to be a deep conversation. Micro-connections count just as much, especially in winter when social energy is low. These tiny moments remind your brain that you’re part of a wider community, even if you’re spending the season solo. Small but powerful examples include:
- Saying hello to someone on your morning walk
- Chatting briefly with a barista
- Holding the door open for someone
- Complimenting someone’s scarf
- Smiling at a neighbour
Create A Feel-Good Winter Routine
Gentle routines can stabilise your emotional wellbeing during long, dark months. The goal is to make winter feel nurturing rather than heavy. A feel-good winter routine might include:
- A warm drink to start your morning
- Soft lighting to brighten dark afternoons
- A cozy evening ritual
- A favourite winter playlist
- Morning stretches
Celebrate Small Wins And Joyful Moments
Loneliness often makes you overlook the good things happening around you. Practising micro-gratitude can shift your focus back to calm and comfort. Joy doesn’t need to be big to be real. You could note down:
- A beautiful winter sunset
- A chat with someone kind
- Something warm you ate or drank
- A moment you felt proud of
Reach Out To One Person A Day
You don’t need a long phone call or an hour-long catch-up — a simple message makes a difference. Reaching out helps rebuild that sense of connection without feeling overwhelming. Things to try:
- Sending a voice note
- Checking in on a friend
- Sharing a funny meme
- Texting someone to say you’re thinking of them
If winter feels especially quiet, learning how to romanticize winter when you’re single can help shift the season from something you endure into something you gently enjoy.
Practical Winter Loneliness Tips For Solo Travelers
Winter doesn’t have to feel isolating. A few simple lifestyle shifts can help you feel more grounded, connected, and emotionally supported, even when the days are short and the weather is unpredictable.
Get Daylight Every Morning For 10–15 Minutes
Even a short burst of daylight first thing in the morning can lift your mood more than you’d expect. It helps regulate your internal clock, boosts your energy, and reduces that heavy winter sluggishness. A simple low-commitment habit like this sets a steady foundation for the rest of your day. Here are some easy ways to do this:
- Step outside with your morning coffee
- Open your curtains fully as soon as you wake up
- Take a short walk around your block
- Stand by a bright window for a few minutes
Move Your Body In Gentle, Winter-Friendly Ways
You don’t need a gym membership to boost your mood. Movement creates feel-good hormones that directly counter winter loneliness. The goal isn’t fitness, it’s boosting your energy and supporting your mental health. Try whatever feels doable:
- A slow neighbourhood walk
- A 10-minute stretch routine
- Yoga at home
- A beginner-friendly winter hike
- A dance break to your favourite song
Add Mini Adventures Into Your Week
Micro-adventures give you a sense of purpose and break up the monotony of winter. They also help rebuild your confidence in being out and about when you’re feeling low. These small outings gently expand your world again. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
- Trying a new coffee shop
- Visiting a local bookstore
- Exploring a winter market
- Wandering through a cute neighbourhood
- Watching the sunset at a waterfront spot
Build An Environment That Supports Your Mood
Your surroundings matter more in winter, especially if you spend a lot of time at home. A comforting environment makes it easier to stay emotionally steady. Things you could try:
- Using soft, warm lighting
- Adding cozy blankets
- Keeping a winter drinks corner stocked
- Playing calming music or background noise
Stick To A Loose Weekly Structure When You’re At Home
Having simple anchors throughout your week can make winter feel less aimless and more grounded. Structure reduces that drifting, lonely feeling. This could look like:
- Mondays = grocery restock
- Wednesdays = winter walk
- Fridays = cozy movie night
- Saturdays = explore a new place
Embrace Local Winter Traditions Wherever You Are
One of the quickest ways to feel less lonely in winter, especially as a solo traveler, is to stop resisting the season and start participating in it. Every place has its own way of moving through winter, and leaning into local traditions can help you feel more connected, rooted, and present, even if you’re far from home. Winter traditions create rhythm. They give the season structure, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging — all things that naturally counter loneliness.
Let Winter Be Cultural, Not Just Seasonal
When you approach winter through a cultural lens rather than a weather one, it becomes something to explore instead of something to survive. This can be a game-changer emotionally and mentally. This might look like:
- Trying seasonal foods or drinks that locals associate with winter
- Attending winter festivals, markets, or light displays
- Learning about how people traditionally rest, celebrate, or socialise during this season
- Adopting slower winter routines that mirror local habits
You don’t need to fully adopt every tradition — even small touches can make winter feel warmer and more meaningful.
Use Winter Traditions To Create Micro-Connection
Many winter traditions are designed to be shared, which makes them ideal for solo travelers. Being surrounded by others engaging in the same seasonal traditions creates a quiet sense of togetherness, even if you don’t speak to anyone directly.
- Standing in line at a winter market
- Joining a guided winter walk or tour
- Attending seasonal events or performances
- Participating in community celebrations or rituals
Adapt Traditions To Fit Your Life As A Solo Traveler
You don’t need a family, partner, or big social circle to enjoy winter traditions. Most can be adapted to suit solo living and independent travel. The goal isn’t to recreate someone else’s experience, it’s to make winter feel personal and supportive for you. Here are some ideas:
- Creating your own version of a seasonal meal
- Walking through winter lights alone with a hot drink
- Watching traditional winter films at home
- Turning local customs into personal rituals
Learn How Different Places Do Winter
If you’re someone who loves travel, learning about winter traditions in different countries can ease wanderlust while helping you feel more grounded where you are now. Exploring how winter is celebrated in places like Canada or the UK can give you new ways to approach the season and remind you that winter isn’t meant to look or feel the same everywhere.
You might find it comforting to explore:
- How Canadians embrace winter through outdoor traditions, festivals, and cosy social culture
- How British winter traditions centre around comfort, routine, and seasonal rituals
Let Winter Traditions Anchor You
When everything feels quiet, traditions act like anchors. They remind you that this season has a beginning, a middle, and an end — and that people all over the world are moving through it alongside you.
Embracing local winter traditions doesn’t mean winter suddenly becomes your favourite season. It simply means you’re no longer moving through it alone.
Navigating Christmas Alone As A Solo Traveler
Christmas can be one of the hardest points of winter if you’re a solo traveler. Whether you’re traveling, living abroad, or at home between trips, the season often comes with intense expectations around togetherness, family, and tradition. As someone who has spent many Christmas’s alone, I know first-hand that when your life doesn’t fit that mould, loneliness can feel sharper and more visible. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of grief, sadness, relief, and even peace during this time.
Spending Christmas alone doesn’t mean you’ve failed at building a life. It often simply reflects the realities of independent travel, living abroad, or choosing a different path than the one we’re told is “normal.”
Why Christmas Feels Harder When You’re Solo
For solo travelers, Christmas can highlight:
- Limited social plans while others prioritise family
- Financial boundaries that restrict travel
- A pause in the movement and novelty you’re used to
- Time zone differences that make connection harder
- Distance from family or home traditions
- No-one to buy gifts for or receive gifts from while everyone else has piles of presents under trees
Give Yourself Permission To Do Christmas Differently
You don’t need to recreate a traditional Christmas for it to be meaningful. Many solo travelers find comfort in creating a quieter, more intentional version of the season that actually suits their life. There is no right way to spend Christmas. You could:
- Treat Christmas as a self-care day
- Explore your surroundings if you’re traveling
- Cook one comforting dish rather than a full meal
- Watch familiar films or listening to seasonal music
- Let the day pass without pressure to make it special
Create Gentle Connection Without Forcing It
Connection at Christmas doesn’t have to look like a full day of socialising. Small touchpoints matter. Being around others, even briefly, can soften the day. Simple options include:
- Spending time in public spaces rather than isolating at home
- Joining a community event or walk
- Volunteering for a few hours
- A short call or message with someone you trust
If Christmas Alone Feels Particularly Heavy
If Christmas is a particularly difficult time for you, it can help to plan ahead with self-compassion rather than avoidance. Creating a loose plan, even a very simple one, can reduce anxiety and emotional overwhelm. I’ve spent many Christmas’s on my own, some much easier than others.
Christmas alone can still be calm, meaningful, and even comforting — especially when you let go of expectations and meet yourself where you are.
You might find it helpful to explore more detailed guidance on:
- How To Survive Christmas Alone And Actually Enjoy It
- Spending Christmas Alone: A Cozy, Comforting Guide For Single Women
Handling Wanderlust In Winter When You Can’t Travel
For many solo travelers, travel isn’t just a hobby, it’s emotional regulation. It’s how you reset, feel alive, meet people, and reconnect with yourself. So when winter hits and travel isn’t possible, that restless, trapped feeling can intensify loneliness rather than soothe it. If you’re feeling stuck at home, scrolling flights, watching travel videos, and wondering why winter feels harder without movement, you’re not failing at winter, you’re grieving a part of your lifestyle that brings you joy. Here’s how to work with wanderlust in winter instead of fighting it.
Reframe Travel As A Season, Not A Constant
One of the hardest things for solo travelers in winter is the feeling that life is on pause. Travel often brings momentum, identity, and purpose, and winter can feel like the opposite. Travel doesn’t disappear in winter, it just shifts into a quieter phase. So instead of seeing winter as lost time, try viewing it as the preparation season. Winter can be the time of year when you:
- Rest your nervous system after busy travel periods
- Save money intentionally
- Reflect on what kind of trips you actually want next
- Build strength, routines, and emotional stability
Create Local “Travel Energy” Without Leaving Town
You don’t need a plane ticket to feel a sense of exploration. Approach your local area with the same curiosity you bring to a new destination. You can bring travel energy and some small adventures into your life by:
- Visiting neighbourhoods you’ve never explored
- Trying cuisines from countries on your travel wish list
- Going to museums, galleries, or cultural centres
- Walking unfamiliar routes in your city
- Treating a café visit like a solo travel date
Plan Future Trips Without Pressure To Book
Planning can be comforting when done gently. The key is removing urgency and comparison. Planning trips will remind you that this phase is temporary. Instead of obsessively checking prices, try:
- Creating a flexible travel wish list
- Mapping out rough seasonal travel ideas
- Drafting rough travel itineraries for destinations on your travel bucketlist
- Researching slow travel or off-season destinations
- Journaling about how you want future trips to feel
- Building a savings plan tied to future experiences
Channel Wanderlust Into Creative Expression
When you can’t travel, creativity becomes a powerful outlet for the same emotions. It’s a great way to engage with the part of you that loves movement, discovery, and growth. Here are some ideas:
- Editing old travel photos or videos
- Writing travel memories or reflections
- Starting a travel-inspired journal
- Creating mood boards for future destinations
- Learning a language connected to a place you love
Anchor Yourself In Why You Chose Solo Travel In The First Place
Winter loneliness can make you forget why reminder that solo travel isn’t just about places, it’s about who you are. You’re still that person in winter. The season hasn’t taken that away. Take some time to reconnect with:
- What solo travel taught you about yourself
- How capable and resilient you are
- The confidence you’ve built through independence
- The freedom you’ve created in your life
If winter is making you feel restless or stuck, you might find comfort in exploring more ways to cure your wanderlust when you can’t travel.
Cozy Indoor Activities During The Winter
When it’s cold, dark, or rainy outside, being at home can actually become a space of comfort rather than isolation. The key is filling your space with activities that spark warmth, creativity, and gentle connection — even if you’re spending winter alone. These ideas are especially helpful if you’re used to traveling solo and suddenly find yourself more stationary in winter.
Do Creative Projects That Make You Feel Alive
Creative activities are grounding and emotionally regulating. They give your mind something positive to focus on and help shift loneliness into expression and flow. Creativity helps you reconnect with yourself and feel more purposeful on quiet winter days.
- Starting a photography challenge at home
- Creating a winter scrapbook or memory journal
- Trying watercolours, doodling, or painting
- Writing short stories, poetry, or personal reflections
- Learning a new craft like knitting or embroidery
- Starting a blog
Create A Cozy Winter Sanctuary Where You Are Staying
Your home has the power to soften the hardest parts of winter. A few intentional changes can transform your space into a calming retreat. Making your home feel nurturing gives you something positive to come back to every day. Here’s a few Ideas of things you can include:
- Soft throw blankets and fluffy cushions
- Warm, gentle lighting using lamps or fairy lights
- A diffuser with seasonal scents like vanilla or pine
- A winter drinks station with teas, hot chocolate, and cosy mugs
Try Virtual Communities And Low-Pressure Online Connections
When in-person plans are hard to manage, virtual spaces can offer companionship without effort or commitment. It’s connection without pressure — ideal for low-energy winter days. Great options for solo women include:
- Book clubs
- Creative workshops
- Cozy winter challenge groups
- Solo travel or women’s community chats
- Online fitness groups
Create Cozy Low-Effort Winter Rituals
Winter loneliness often eases when you build small rituals that make your days feel meaningful. Rituals make life feel structured, calm, and emotionally steady — especially when the world outside feels grey and quiet. You could try:
- A warm drink ritual every evening
- A weekly face mask and pamper session
- A Sunday reset with candles and music
- A mindful journaling ritual
- A comforting winter playlist
Easy Winter Self-Care For Solo Travelers
Winter self-care doesn’t need to be elaborate, aesthetic, or expensive. When you’re navigating the season alone, whether traveling or at home, the most effective self-care is usually the simplest. Small, consistent acts of care can quietly reduce loneliness by helping you feel safer, calmer, and more supported in your own body and space. So think of winter self-care as maintenance, not transformation.
Caring for yourself will also make it easier to seek and receive connections When your body feels rested and supported, reaching out, leaving the house, or engaging socially feels less draining. That’s why winter self-care isn’t indulgent — it’s foundational.
Prioritise Comfort Over Productivity
Winter naturally asks for slower energy. Trying to push through it can increase emotional fatigue and isolation. Rest is not a setback, it’s a form of self-love. Some gentle ways to honour this include:
- Allowing earlier nights without guilt
- Wearing clothes that prioritise warmth and comfort
- Letting some days be quieter than others
- Reducing pressure to be constantly productive
Use Warmth As Emotional Support
Physical warmth has a direct calming effect on your nervous system, which can ease feelings of loneliness. Warmth signals safety, which helps your body relax. Easy ways to add warmth:
- Hot showers or baths
- Heated blankets or hot water bottles
- Warm drinks throughout the day
- Cooking nourishing, comforting meals
Create One Daily Self-Check-In
A simple daily check-in helps you stay emotionally connected to yourself when winter feels heavy. You don’t need to journal pages — even a mental check-in counts. Try asking:
- How am I feeling today?
- What do I need more of right now?
- What would make today feel gentler?
Choose Self-Care That Is Simple And Feels Grounding
If a self-care trend feels like pressure, it’s okay to ignore it. The best winter self-care supports your real life, not an idealised one. These small acts help regulate your mood and reduce emotional overwhelm. Grounding options include:
- Stretching for five minutes
- Sitting by a window with a warm drink
- Listening to calming music
- Doing one small tidy reset
- Spending time offline
Social Strategies That Feel Natural
You don’t need to suddenly become an extrovert or pack your calendar to feel less lonely in winter. Instead, think about social connection in gentle, low-pressure ways that feel natural to you. These ideas help you rebuild a supportive social rhythm without draining your energy.
Join Local Winter Activities That Don’t Require A Plus-One
Winter is full of cosy, beginner-friendly activities that are perfect for solo women. They give you a reason to leave the house, try something new, and be around people in a relaxed setting. These activities help you meet people organically while doing things you genuinely enjoy. Here’s a few options:
- Winter markets and craft fairs
- Guided winter walks
- Gallery openings
- Workshops at local community centres
- Candle making or pottery classes
- Indoor fitness or yoga classes
Say Yes To Low-Key Plans
Loneliness can make you withdraw from others — even when you want connection. Saying yes to small, manageable plans can help you rebuild social momentum. Short, gentle social time can lift your mood without overwhelming you. Great low-pressure winter plans include:
- Coffee catch-ups
- Brunch dates
- Early dinners
- Movie nights
- A winter walk with a friend
Try Interest-Based Social Activities
Connecting through shared interests helps you meet people who feel like your kind of people. It also gives you something to look forward to. When you bond through interests, conversations feel easier and less forced.
- A creative workshop
- A cooking class
- A winter photography walk
- Board game cafes
- A writing circle
- A language meetup
Create Your Own Winter Rituals With Friends
Not all social connection needs to happen outside the home. You can invite connection into your life by creating simple winter traditions with the people you trust. These rituals create predictable, comforting touchpoints throughout the season. You could try:
- A weekly winter movie night
- Hot chocolate and a chat evenings
- A cosy Sunday potluck
- Monthly game nights
Build Community Through Gentle Giving
Acts of kindness naturally connect you with others and boost your mood, especially during winter. Giving fosters connection in a way that feels purposeful and heartwarming. Ideas include:
- Bringing a friend homemade cookies
- Writing a thoughtful letter
- Volunteering once a month
- Helping a neighbour with winter chores
Signs That You May Need Some Extra Support
Loneliness is a completely normal part of winter, especially if you’re spending the season on your own. But there are moments when the heaviness becomes more than seasonal quiet, and it’s important to recognise when you might need a little extra support.
When Loneliness Feels Overwhelming
If you notice that loneliness is affecting your sleep, appetite, work, or ability to enjoy everyday things, that’s a sign you deserve more care and support. You don’t need to wait until things feel unbearable. Reaching out early is an act of strength, not failure. These feelings don’t define you — they’re simply signals that you need more support than cozy rituals alone can offer. Look out for:
- Feeling persistently down or numb
- Losing interest in things you usually enjoy
- Feeling disconnected from people you care about
- Struggling to get out of bed
- Feeling anxious or hopeless
Talking To Someone You Trust
A simple conversation can make a huge difference. Sharing your thoughts with someone safe can help lighten the emotional load. You don’t need to explain everything perfectly. Sometimes saying “I’m struggling a bit this winter” is enough to start feeling supported. You might reach out to:
- A close friend
- A family member
- A colleague you trust
- Someone in your support network
When To Seek Professional Support
If winter loneliness is starting to impact your daily life, or if you feel like you’re slipping into a more serious emotional low, speaking to a mental health professional can help you feel grounded again. Professional support can give you tools and strategies that go beyond what you can do on your own, and it can help you feel stronger and more connected. Options include:
- Online therapy platforms
- Community-based counselling
- Local mental health services
- Support groups designed for women
You Deserve Care, Support, And Connection
Loneliness doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It simply means you’re human — and that you deserve understanding, connection, and support just as much as anyone else.
Winter Can Feel Long, Quiet, And Emotionally Heavy As A Solo Traveler Or Expat
If you are used to regularly moving around independently, winter can feel really slow and limiting. When travel slows and routines change, loneliness can creep in more easily. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It simply means you’re human and adjusting to a slower season.
Feeling less lonely in winter isn’t about forcing yourself to be busier or pretending you’re fine. It’s about creating small moments of connection, comfort, and meaning, whether that looks like gentle routines at home, low-pressure social plans, creative outlets, or finding ways to honour your wanderlust without needing to go anywhere.
This season doesn’t have to be something you just endure until the next trip. With a few intentional shifts, winter can become a time to rest, reset, and reconnect with yourself in quieter ways. Take what resonates from this post, leave what doesn’t, and move through the season at your own pace.
Whether you’re traveling or not, build a winter that feels supportive, grounding, and emotionally steady, even on the darkest days. And when the time comes to move again, you’ll do so feeling stronger, more centred, and ready for whatever comes next.
Share Me
If you found this post helpful, share it or pin it! It’s one of the best ways to show your support. Thank you!
Gemma Lawrence is a British expat, solo female travel blogger, and the creator of This Brit’s Life — a travel and lifestyle blog that helps women explore the world confidently, live abroad independently, and stay informed about global issues.
Born and raised in England, Gemma has been living in British Columbia, Canada since 2016 and has been traveling solo for over a decade. With a background in journalism and over ten years of experience in digital marketing and communications — including leadership roles with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/BC) — she brings both storytelling and strategy to her writing.
Through her posts, Gemma shares practical solo travel advice, expat insights, and confidence-building resources, while also covering broader topics like women’s rights, democracy, and self-care. Her goal is to inspire independence, awareness, and personal growth — one adventure at a time
Leave a Reply