This festive season nothing scares an introvert more than crowds and Christmas chaos. If you hate going outside – not because it’s cold – but because you’d rather cosy up and spend Christmas alone, we get you. However, if you have no idea how to spend Christmas at home and are scared you may become bored, fear not. Here is our guide of activities you can do alone this Christmas to keep the festive cheer.
It’s totally understandable why one would prefer spending Christmas alone. The crowded malls, restaurants, and bars, and the constant blast of Nat King Cole and Mariah Carrey. Not to mention the marathon of family reunion dinners and the mental preparation for backhanded compliments and questioning. After dealing with people the whole year, it’s finally time to give yourself some much needed ‘me-time’.
Thankfully, with the help of technology, there are many things you can do to recharge for a Christmas alone. Slide in to your favourite pyjamas and take advantage of this time by doing things for you. Whether it be cooking, making presents, or simply lying on the couch watching Netflix, you do you. But if your running out of things to do, here is a list of our suggestions to make your solo Christmas date worthwhile.
8 ways to make this Christmas alone an unforgettable one
1. Watching your favourite Christmas films and series
Starting off with the easiest thing you can do, turn on a movie and cosy up on the couch. Luckily, there are tons of Christmas movies on streaming services like Netflix and HBO MAX. However, you also don’t have to watch classics like Elf or Miracle on 34th Street. You can also check out films that aren’t necessarily Christmas movies but actually are. If you’re looking to binge longer, there are also many highly anticipated series coming in December, namely the epic series finale of Stranger Things.
2. Trying to cook a Christmas roast
Put the cup noodles and takeout apps away and try cooking a nice meal for once. You can try making a nice roasted turkey or steak dinner for yourself. If that sounds like to much work for you, you can also cook a simple pasta or healthy recipe. Keep it simple, healthy, and tasty and you will able to sharpen your cooking skills and have something to brag about. If not, you could use the magical Thermomix® and some YouTube tutorials to get you on your merry way.
3. Baking your own festive pastries
Have you seen enough gingerbread cookies or sourdough recipes on TikTok? Well it’s time to stop scrolling and start rolling some dough. Whether your making cookies for yourself or for others baking something is a fun way to pass the time. You can get creative by putting a Malaysian twist on classic pastries like panettone or getting creative a shaping it into something unexpected. Yes, we know it’s a hassle to clean up the mess. But, many have claimed baking as deeply healing and satisfying for their inner child, and maybe it’s time you’d feed them some baked pastries.
4. Mixing your own Christmas cocktails
It’s time to take out the old bottles of liquor you haven’t touched for months. That ‘special occasion’ has arrived and you should cheers to yourself for surviving the year. There are many Christmas cocktails beyond eggnog and brandy, the key is making one you love. Go on YouTube or check out our bartender’s guide. Who knows? You may come up with a drink so good, you’ll have to share it with friends and family.
5. Vibing out to festive music
For the audiophiles, spending Christmas alone is the perfect time to dust-off those old vinyl’s and turn up the speakers. Catching up on your favourite artist’s albums are a great way to past the time and relax. And it can also be a time to let loose and hold a mini dance party for yourself. After all, some dance their best when no one is watching. Make sure to use a high quality set of speakers or headphones and enjoy an audio escape into another world.
6. Getting yourself a gift
Why not take some time aside to get yourself a gift? This can be a special luxury item like a nice watch, jewelry, or even some practical household technology. The best gifts are things you would not have spent money on otherwise, so why not now? Especially when there are holiday discounts and promotions abound. Whether it’s that iPhone you’ve been saving up for or a storage box for your accessories, get yourself something you can be proud of.
7. Preparing presents for others
Embrace the joy of giving this season by preparing gifts for your loved ones. The best gifts are usually something meaningful or useful, with that in mind you can check out our gift guides for some ideas. Make sure to wrap the gifts nicely and add a nice handwritten card to make it extra special.
8. Decorating your own living space
Finally, if you’re reading this on top of a pile of clothes, maybe it’s time to tidy up and decorate your place to reflect a more festive mood. Spending Christmas alone doesn’t give you an excuse for a messy living space. Maybe change the pillow covers, set up some fairy lights, or hang up some Santa stockings. If you really feel ambitious set-up a Christmas tree on your own. You may be exhausted when you’re done, but you’ll certainly feel much better lazing around in a cosy festive abode.
(Hero image credit: Unsplash/Alsu Vershinina Feature image credit: Unsplash/Tim Douglas)
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
