Women spending Christmas alone, what nice things do you have planned?

I expect I'll have the afternoon and early evening alone. I am fine with being alone. Struggling with why though. Will read this thread fully now as I'm sure it will be full of great ideas.

I have spent Christmases alone recently too. My partner has worked away at Christmas and I have been alone.

Walk the dog then go for a run. Hot shower, chocolate croissants and prosecco whilst a mini roast cooks.
Curl up, do some embroidery, nap, wake up, dog walk and then cheese, wine and chocolate

I'll be on my own, same as last few years. NC with family.

My approach is to try to keep busy in the lead up, so the day itself feels like a welcome break when it arrives. Keeping busy for me usually means working, but if not it could be cleaning the house, sorting the garden, anything really.

I'll have some decorations up. Some years it's a traditional tree others a bit more paired down (currently a nutcracker, mouse king and small nativity on the mantle, need to decide if a big or small tree going up). The year I didn't bother with decorations at all I felt worse, like I really was on the outside so that didn't work for me.

Presents. A friend and I usually exchange gifts in advance so I'll likely have a small something to open. However, from about October if I see any little treats I fancy I buy them but instead of using I pop in a bag in the wardrobe and open again on Christmas Day. Doesn't have to be big items and usually a new perfume to try (or an old favourite), books, furry slippers ect and I've often forgotten what's in the bag. It is nice to have treats to open and actually ones you want. Plus also helps with an answer if you later get the ubiquitous 'get anything nice for Christmas?' question.

On Christmas Day I get up, shower, do hair and usually into new or clean PJ's and that's me ready for the day. I'll have various food options in to decide what I fancy. Lunch could be anything from baked bread (the easy ready part-baked rolls), with cheese and salad or pizza and garlic bread or even a 'proper' dinner. Crisps, chocolate, Christmas cake and mince pies will also be in the cupboard and all guilt free!

I'll usually find something to watch on TV (those TV magazines are useful to circle anything of interest in advance) and just relax, maybe read a book or have a browse on line and plan holidays or ideas for days out for next year. This is where keeping busy in the run up pays off for me because it's nice just to sit down and take it easy.

No-one knows I'm home alone and I'm vague if asked about plans, as I don't want nosy questions, pity or people feeling obliged to invite me to their own celebrations.

I'm sorry for those on their own and struggling with it - it can feel overwhelming especially if the first time, and there is a lot of commercial focus on the 'perfect' traditional day. Be kind to yourself, have some little treats, don't compare to what you think others are doing and structure the day in whichever way works for you.

For me it's the fact that people don't get I want nothing to do with Christmas at all and I'm quite happy spending it alone, doing some nice stuff for myself that isn't festive

No I don't want to eat turkey, why would I when I can have a giant cheese bake and cured meats to myself?
No I don't miss being around loads of people, happy in my own company and from threads on here a lot of it is drama anyway!

Really? Odfod. Read the room you absolute tool.

😂

And if one more person suggests volunteering with the homeless ...

You have spent Christmas alone, but not recently. You spend it with your partner. Your experience of it is due to your mindset. I too will just spend it with my husband. We’re not big fans of it (a festival of consumerism and forced joy), but we do it in our own way. Many people have estrangements. It only damages you to let it dictate your life.

The most important thing is to not compare your solo Christmas with the imagined 'ideal' big family Christmas.
And remember a lot of people have awful family Christmases. I've had a few myself.

I've asked my friend who will be alone this year (invitation here declined as she's planned her perfect day). She's headed up into the hills (Scotland, weather dependent) for the day with her dog, then home for a bath and an evening of cheese, crackers and wine in front of the telly. Basically same day as she had with her late DH, but alone, and she says she's never not met someone else doing the same.

Start your day with the joy that is festive parkrun ! Volunteering is fabulous, or walk or run…add a Santa hat or fancy dress if you want..anything goes 😊

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/special-events/

then everything else already mentioned!

Ok So forgive me as I haven't been alone for a long time.

BUT

Sleep in
Food
Series like binge watch.
Bath
Food
Wine
sleep......

Sorry The thought of peace and quiet and sleep Im about to cry.lol

I generally just ignore it.

Having said that a glass of bubbly in the bath in the morning gives a little buzz that seems to last all day.

In the past I have done marking, decorated a room and spent the day in bed.

Christmas is rough for me too. It’s just me and my son. My brother never invites us, and if I invite him, he politely declines. It can be lonely, especially when it seems all the world has many, many people to celebrate with. We will walk doggo, watch Elf, have Viennetta for lunch and call my Auntie in the UK ( we’re in AU). No piles of people, not much socialising. A bit sad, but strangely peaceful.

@EmeraldRoulette

Well, maybe, but i send myself presents, and don't open the packaging till Christmas Day, and it certainly seems better than nothing.

I've spent the last three Christmases on a solo holiday somewhere warm and sunny. Christmas Day is usually spent at the beach reading a good book or listening to podcasts. I also eat lots of nice food and drink champagne.

This year I am staying home, but home is a new country I have just moved to. So I'll be doing lots of exploring of my new city on my week off work. And also eating lots of great food and drinking champagne of course. 😊

I haven't decided what to buy myself as a Christmas present yet, but whatever it is I'll probably be wearing / using it, to add some extra joy to the day.

That would just underline the sadness I think?

it's not that I want a present as such, it's that I want people who care enough to want to get me a present IYSWIM

I hate that anyone has nothing to open! Can you send yourself a gift?

Thank you. That's very much appreciated.

I wish you a wonderful day.

Lots of people who spend Christmas alone already have a lot of time alone.
A Christmas alone is nice if you are normally busy with lots of people. But if you already spend a lot of time at home alone, then no it is not so enticing.

I’ve had many Solo Christmas’ my DH often works holidays.

Don’t tell anyone but they are quite nice! I do really plan for them, probably as much as if it wasn’t just me. But here are a couple of reoccurring themes…

1. I generally pre cook anything I’m going to want. I really don’t love cooking so better to have everything ready ahead of time. So this means leftover lox and bagels from Christmas Eve to start, glorious cheese a;so left over from the previous day, then a small ham dinner that I cooked the day before with gooey cheesy potatoes and other sides. A couple of dessert options and lots of spare chopped running around.
2. clearly snacks are covered by #1- So next is entertainment, In the morning I will look for a Christmas movie, where I live you get 24 hours of A Christmas Story, so will watch that at least once
3. I love a good audiobook so starting in the afternoon I will start an audiobook and will listen to that as I putter around and while I eat dinner.
4. I will plan a knitting project. I have an intricate afghan in progress that will take me about 10 more years to finish. It’s beautiful wool, gorgeous colors, and just fiddly enough that it’s not one I want to work on all the time. If I’m diligent (and don’t overindulge one wine and whisky) I might finish one square. If I didn’t knit I’d probably start a puzzle, or find a really good book that I’d make myself wait to read.
5. I cuddle with the cats in front of the fire and just watch the tree lights

This year DH isn’t working so we’ll go to family on Christmas Day, it’s nice, low pressure, we have fun but yeah those solo Christmas’ can be really nice.

It won't be too different to a normal day for me. I will have my usual breakfast, go for my usual long walk, have strawberries and ice cream for lunch, go for another walk and then have dinner, which will be festive but not actually cooked by me. Other than a phone convesation with my exDH I probably won't talk to anyone - unless I meet someone out walking - all day. Hopefully there will be something good to watch on TV in the evening, otherwise it will be DVD time. The last of my five cats died this year, but hopefully my friendly neighbour-cat will spend some time with me.

Sorry Emerald, it must be tough. I hope you have a nice peaceful day 💐

I've treated my Christmas's alone like I'm on a long-haul flight, 1st class, with a bath somewhere on board, also the cat is here. Delicious snacks, films to watch / books to read, little glasses of champagne and orange juice, naps in blankets, baths with oils/bombs, repeat.

This year I'm alone - very grateful after a binfire last year with family; have also said no to spending it with friends as I really want my 'first class' experience. Thinking of: scrambled eggs with smoked salmon; caviar and crisps; southern fried chicken with greens; plus lovely juices, a box of excellent chocolate, some nice fruit (pineapple, mango, passion fruit). Bliss.

@StrikeForever I find going away alone a bit grim. I had a weekend away alone at Easter and kept posting here! But Xmas is the worst time as there would be chaos if elderly mum falls or something. I did think about it but no else available if anything happens - and yes, this has happened at the most complex times and I am not able to cope with that again. It's easier to stay put.

re volunteering at Xmas. I have done it before though and it is quite depressing, it's better to find a way to get the day done fast IMHO. no transport either.

but I am grateful I'm not staring down the barrel of weeks on my own like last year.