Spending Christmas alone doesn’t always feel festive. The adverts show big family dinners and matching pyjamas, while your reality might look like takeaway on the sofa or a quick long-distance call at best. But being alone doesn’t have to feel painful or lonely.
After years of surviving the holidays alone while living abroad, I’ve learned how to turn a quiet festive season into something peaceful, personal, and sometimes even joyful. If you’re trying to figure out how to survive, maybe even enjoy, Christmas alone, here’s a guide to help you cope, reset, and create a gentle celebration that truly supports you.
For many of us, spending Christmas alone can feel very isolation, but its more normal than the media and social media will have you believe. Let’s be honest, the whole season can bring up mixed emotions let alone when you will be spending it on your own. verywhere you look, people are posting photos of big gatherings, snowy evenings with friends, and Christmas trees with piles of presents underneath.
But after many Christmases on my own, I’ve learned that Christmas can feel much easier and much calmer when you take away expectations and focus on what makes you feel good.
Reframe What “Alone” Means
Christmas alone doesn’t mean you’re unloved or forgotten. It simply means you have full control over the day — your food, your pace, your plans, your peace. It can be a relief when you stop comparing and start designing a holiday that puts your wellbeing first.
Reframing your perspective is one of the most helpful tools for how to cope with Christmas alone because it shifts the focus from what’s missing to what you can create.
Let Go Of “Shoulds”
You don’t have to decorate, cook, or perform holiday cheer. You also don’t have to hide how you really feel. Whether you’re dealing with Christmas depression alone, coping with grief, or simply feeling burnt out, a quieter celebration might be exactly what you need.
Some years you’ll feel festive, other years you’ll simply want comfort. Both are valid when you’re surviving the holidays single.
Create A Mini Tradition That’s Yours
Traditions don’t have to come from childhood or family. You can create Christmas traditions for single women that feel meaningful and comforting.
Ideas include:
- A single special meal or 3 course meal that feels indulgent.
- A signature Christmas Eve film.
- A breakfast that you only make at Christmas.
- A sunrise walk on Christmas morning.
- A new ornament each year to mark where you are in life.
- Starting a gratitude journal and write one page on Christmas Day.
- A new journal and writing a reflection page for the year.
- Buying yourself a luxurious gift.
Building private traditions and small rituals for your Christmas alone will just help anchor and structure Christmas Eve and Christmas day so you have things to look forward to.
Get Some Christmas Treats
Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the fun stuff, so give yourself permission to enjoy little luxuries.
Things to pick up:
- Your favourite festive snacks
- A fancy dessert
- Really good hot chocolate and all the trimmings
- Mulled wine or a Christmas cocktail or mocktail
- A box of fancy biscuits or chocolates you never buy for yourself
Treats will make Christmas self care feel extra cosy and intentional. Think comfort, nostalgia, and joy.
Make Your Space Nice & Cozy
Your environment can influence how you feel, especially if you’re trying to feel less lonely at Christmas.
You could:
- Add soft blankets and cushions
- Get lots of fairy lights and scatter them around your space
- Burn a Christmas candle and/or incense sticks (pick a cozy winter scent)
- Make a cozy Christmas playlist
- Create a hygge-inspired reading nook
- Rearrange your furniture
Curate your space for comfort and peace. It is exactly what you need during the holidays if you are on your own, and will help you to make cozy Christmas moments.
If you want simple decorating ideas that don’t cost much, you can check out my post on Low Cost Easy Ways To Decorate For Christmas.
Romanticise Your Alone Time
This is your time to lean into slow, quiet, cosy moments.
- Bake something simple — the smell alone feels therapeutic.
- Wrap yourself in a blanket and drink cocoa.
- Read something comforting.
- Create a warm bath routine with oils and salts.
- Make your own mulled wine.
Romanticizing the holidays will help make Christmas easier alone, because everything feels gentler when you intentionally design a comforting atmosphere focused on your own self-love. For more ideas, here are 64 ways to romanticize winter.
Prioritize Your Mental Health & Emotional Health
The holidays can amplify emotions. Supporting your mental health at Christmas can make a huge difference in your overall wellbeing.
Ways to support yourself:
- Journal honestly
- Allow space to rest
- Reduce pressure
- Talk to someone you trust
- Watch soothing films
- Keep plans simple
This is where emotional self care at Christmas really matters. Protecting your headspace can help you cope with holiday loneliness in a much healthier way. If homesickness hits, my post on How To Deal With Homesickness While Abroad might help.
Do Things That Bring You Joy
Joy doesn’t need to be big or performative. Small pleasures help ease loneliness and keep your energy balanced.
You could try:
- Baking cookies
- Doing a puzzle
- Reading something light
- Making an indulgent breakfast
- Going for a gentle walk
Choosing activities you genuinely enjoy helps you reconnect with yourself during Christmas alone in a positive way.
Stuck for ideas? Here are 75 Fun Ways To Get Into The Festive Spirit (Updated 2023)
Have A Social Media Detox
Social media over the holidays can be really brutal. I can say from personal experience that going on social media over the holidays, can be very triggering. Curated highlight reels will easily make holiday loneliness feel even heavier.
Doom scrolling countless photos of beautiful trees with huge piles of presents piled up, family photos, activities with friends is one of the worst things you can do if you are spending Christmas alone – especially if its due to circumstances rather than a personal choice.
So do yourself a favour and take a holiday break from scrolling, and limit what you see. Protect your peace like it’s a gift to yourself.
Increase Your Self Care
This is the perfect time for a soft, soothing self care day.
You could:
- Take a long bath with bubbles and candles
- Do a full pamper routine
- Enjoy some winter skincare like a face mask or moisturizing socks
- Give yourself a manicure
Think of this as a day designed for nurturing. For more inspiration, my post 12 Great Self-Care Tips For The Holidays might help.
Do A Creative Festive Project
Creativity shifts your focus and helps calm your mind. If you’re struggling with how to survive Christmas alone, hands-on projects offer comfort and distraction.
You could try:
- Making your own decorations
- Creating a scrapbook
- Painting or drawing
- Knitting or crocheting something cozy.
- Creative writing
- Adult colouring books
It’s soothing and will help break up the day. Creativity also supports emotional regulation and keeps your day softly structured.
Enjoy Some Festive Movies Or Books
Comfort entertainment can be an absolute lifeline when surviving the holidays alone. so try having a a little holiday movie marathon or binge watch your favourite show (Supernatural is my go to). For some movie inspiration, check out my post on 12 Great Christmas Movies To Binge Watch.
If reading feels more comforting, choose something light or nostalgic like a cozy Christmas story.
Make A Christmas Eve Box
A Christmas Eve Box is a lovely ritual for surviving the holidays single. Fill it with cosy essentials, snacks, a candle, comfy socks, or a new book to enjoy on your own terms.
Go To A Local Festive Event
If being indoors feels heavy, a short outing can help reduce holiday loneliness. Christmas markets, winter shows, or festive community events offer gentle background cheer without any pressure to socialize.
You don’t need to stay long, just being around joyful energy can help shift your mood.
Find A Pretty Lights Display
Light displays are calming, magical, and perfect for solo exploring. Walking through twinkly lights is a simple but powerful mood booster when you’re navigating Christmas depression alone.
Look for:
- Botanical garden displays
- Neighbourhood light walks
- City centre installations
- Waterfront displays
Just wander around with a hot chocolate and enjoy the sparkle.
Random Acts Of Holiday Kindness
Helping others can ease loneliness, give your day meaning, and lift your mood instantly.
- Buy a hot drink or meal for someone homeless
- Donate to a food bank or homeless shelter
- Leave a kind note for a neighbour
- Tip generously if you can
- Volunteer at a shelter or community meal
Volunteering can be especially comforting and a great way to feel connected. It could also be a way to make some new friends.
Go On A Solo Outing (Yes, Even On Christmas Day)
Getting outdoors can instantly lift your mood. A solo outing will make spending Christmas alone feel a lot more intentional rather than something that is happening to you.
Here’s a few ideas:
- Visit a quiet beach.
- Go for a scenic drive.
- Find a coffee shop that’s open.
- Book a solo Christmas dinner at a pub (or restaurant).
- Get a ticket for a Christmas show.
- Check out live music.
Fresh air will help ease the emotional heaviness of being alone during the holidays. You might also meet others who are spending Christmas alone.
Treat Yourself Without Guilt
Self-gifting is one of the strongest tools for emotional self care at Christmas. Choose something indulgent like a fancy perfume, a journal, or a nice bag you’ve had your eye on. Just something that will spark joy for you on Christmas Day and help shift the focus from lack to abundance.
Or if you are someone who prefers having a few presents rather than just one, make yourself a Christmas stocking, You could fill it with things like:
- Delicious Christmas treats
- Self-care pamper products
- Make-up
- Jewellery
- Travel products for your next trip
- Christmas mug
- Cozy socks
You deserve nice things just because you exist, not because someone else decides to give them.
“Self-gifting isn’t selfish — it’s self-respect.”
Connect — But On Your Terms
Connection can help you cope with holiday loneliness, but only when it feels safe and supportive. It’s about quality over quantity and doing what’s right for you.
Here’s a few ideas:
- Schedule video calls with loved ones in advance so you know when you’ll connect.
- Have casual chats with trusted friends.
- Go for coffee with a friend in a cozy cafe.
- Join an online festive event.
- Spend time in a familiar supportive community.
You get to decide who you let into your day.
Reflect, Don’t Ruminate
Reflection can feel healing when you’re spending Christmas alone. Rumination just makes everything heavier.
Try doing some journaling. Here’s a few questions to get you started:
- What went well this year?
- What are you proud of?
- What do you want to improve next year?
- What do you want more (or less) of next year?
- What were the highlights of the year?
- What are your goals for the year ahead?
- What are you looking forward to?
This will shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s possible.
Work On A Personal Project
Making some progress on something meaningful to you while you’re on vacation whether it’s a personal blog, a vision board for next year, a creative idea, or a career goal can help you feel grounded and productive in a gentle way.
Make a cup of coffee, open your laptop, and enjoy the quiet.
Go On A Christmas Vacation (If You Can Afford It)
A complete change of scenery can transform the holidays. Whether it’s a cosy cabin, a snowy mountain town, or even a sunny escape, travelling solo during Christmas can be freeing and peaceful. A solo Christmas trip will give you distance, novelty, and fresh energy.
If you’re celebrating overseas, you might like my post How To Celebrate Christmas Overseas.
For inspiration on where to go for Christmas, check out my post on Great Festive Places Around The World For A Christmas Abroad
Start Planning Something To Look Forward To
Hope is a powerful thing. Having something exciting in the diary can make the holiday season feel softer. It’s an effective tool for how to make Christmas easier alone, because anticipation fuels hope.
You could book a solo trip for spring or summer or plan a local getaway. Or you could start smaller like:
- A January brunch somewhere fancy.
- A winter class to try something new.
- A spring weekend city break
- A day trip to a nearby town you’ve never explored
- A new hobby
Even a small plan can turn “after the holidays” into something exciting. It’s just about having something on the horizon to keep hope alive.
Remember That Peace Is A Win
A gentle, quiet Christmas is still a Christmas. If you’re also managing your mental health at Christmas, rest and calm can feel like the biggest gift of all.
This might not be your loudest Christmas, but it can be one of your most restorative; full of comfort, clarity, and authenticity.
Spend Christmas Alone Your Way
The most important thing is to ignore how society says that you should be spending Christmas, and do whatever you want to do. When you remove the pressure and comparison, you make space for a Christmas that feels soft, authentic, and deeply personal.
Being alone for the holidays means that you can slow down, nurture yourself, and do things that bring you joy and peace – and if that means avoiding anything festive completely, that’s OK too.
You might be surprised by how healing it feels to shape your own version of festive — quieter, warmer, and completely yours.
Read More About Christmas Time
- How To Have Yourself A Very British Christmas!
- How to Celebrate Christmas Overseas (Updated 2023)
- Great Festive Places Around The World For A Christmas Abroad
- 12 Great Self-Care Tips For The Holidays
- 9 Low Cost Easy Ways To Decorate For Christmas
- 75 Fun Ways To Get Into The Festive Spirit (Updated 2023)
- Ultimate Christmas Music Collection
- 12 Great Christmas Movies To Binge Watch
- Blogmas Time: This Brits Life Christmas Q & A (Updated 2023)
- Blogmas Time: The Christmas Tag 2020
- Blogmas Time: Review Of My First Ever Blogmas!
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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
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