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

I hate to say it but if you're spending Christmas with your partner and/or your adult children then you are not spending it on your own!

@Doubledded123

heaven forbid a wanting to relax and prioritise herself eh? She should be serving and supporting others…

All the comments about volunteering are completely pointless and no help.
And all the people who have never actually spent a Christmas alone aren’t helping really either :(((

in the real world if people know you are going to be alone or only have a couple of people (like i do) they tend to just blank you as they don’t want to hear about it unless you have the big happy family christmases plastered all over the tv every year.

so I have to show polite interest in their family Christmases, even shop workers seem to tell me about all their plans every year whilst inside I feel so empty and drained. It starts September goes on until January nowadays too.

anyway OP if you are going to be alone just do the things that may bring you a little joy. For some that’s making plans for others that’s literally doing nothing Christmassy at all as what’s the point. Many of the people alone also won’t have a present under the tree so my best advice to them is to buy themselves a few little treats of things they like.

its usually just myself and my partner here which we both find hard tbh as we both have families that don’t see us. We’ve usually done non traditional christmases and food so a picnic in the car at the beach or a long walk and a fried breakfast or if the weathers bad find something on the tv and have some snacks.

this year it’s just us again plus we have kittens so will be focussing on them and I will see my adult child for a bit after they finish work.

i have also had many christmases alone and it’s tough.

I've only spend half the day alone for two christmases, but I love all the traditional things so I carried on doing the same each time. Pastry for breakfast, bit of Buck's Fizz, roast dinner (with sprouts without DC to moan about them 😂), cheese whilst watching all the Christmas specials. I'm a homebody and easily pleased, and almost an empty nester so I'll be happy doing this once they fly properly.

I want to come too!

There’s nothing you will be able to say to help I’m afraid. I am NC with my big family and will spend the day with just my adult child (after they finish work) p, my partner and pets. But I’ve also spend Christmases completely alone or alone and at work. But nothing can dim the pain of the family you aren’t with :(

Same as last year for me

Workout at home (probably spin)
Long bath
Nice breakfast probably involving halloumi or bacon

Naps
Cheesy films
New book
Aldi cheese bake, cured meats, pickled onions, warm bread
Chocolate dessert of some sort

I can't really imagine spending it alone tbh. But if I did, I'd probably buy in lots of nice food and drink, do a puzzle, read a book, watch a film, go for a bike ride by the beach if it was sunny, have a long bath and an early night.

Christmas Day when DD is with ex starts with bacon sarnies before a trip to the beach. This year there’s only one dog to take as I’ve just said goodbye to my beloved old girl.
After that I eat homemade pigs in blankets and sip cava while laying on the sofa.
No one makes any demands.
I think about all the people cooking dinner for 20 and count my blessings!

Really? Odfod. Read the room you absolute tool.

Op - I have done this before. I got all my favourite food in plus a new blanket, a new book, new cosy pjs, some gorgeous scented bubble bath and just made it a day of decadence. I truly believe I enjoyed Christmas that year more than most of my friends.

AIBU to think it's sad some people have nothing better to do that appoint themselves thread police?

Me too I wanna come!

Sorry you feel like that. It sounds very tough. If you can afford it, maybe go on a cruise over Christmas next year (or snap up a late bargain for this year). There are always other solo passengers. There is also the option to volunteer in ‘soup kitchens’ for the homeless etc 💐

@bringthecactusin what a nice colleague

I'd love to have a present to open.

im glad you enjoy your jumping though!

I find most people studiously ignore any mention of loneliness.

I'll never forget the year a colleague rang to check on me because she knew I'd be by myself. She'd even given me a present to open incase I didn't have anything. And she rang me and when I answered all out of breath she was worried I was ill or having an heart attack, and I had to explain I'd just been jumping on the couch like Home Alone. Just because it was Christmas day and I was so excited. 🙈

I've spent small bits of Christmas day on my own previously when I worked shifts at the hospital and lived a long way from family. This year I'm spending my first whole Christmas Day on my own. I'm 46. And I'm so excited!!

First thing I do, is run downstairs, put Christmas music on loud and jump up and down on the sofa for a bit. Because it's Christmas day and if you can't bounce on your own sofa on Christmas day when can you? Then I open my presents. Then I sit and eat my cereal while just looking at my presents and appreciating them. Actually this year I might have bacon butties. Have a very long lush bubble bath while eating chocolates or reading a book. Then I'll phone or message a few friends, see what's on telly, visit a couple of Neighbours. Maybe go for a drive or a little walk. I'll have a microwave turkey dinner for one because I'm very very bad cook, and I can't NOT have a turkey dinner. Watch films. Eat my own bodyweight in chocolate. Drop in to visit a few friends maybe, but I'll probably be too lazy and just watch more films. I expect I'll get a bit bored of my own company and maybe have a little nap. Just cosy and Christmassy in my new pjs doing my own thing. I'm excited to see what the day will bring.

If I was alone and some years I truly wish I was, I'd have a remote ish cottage booked for the week, if by a beach even better but not compulsory. food I like and picky bits ordered to just pick up a day before, plenty of wine and books. So first walk the dogs, go back to cottage, into comfies, spend entire day eating what I want, when I want, drinking same and not necessarily alcohol. Watching any damn thing I like or not. Same for boxing day.

I don't get lonely, I love my own company and being able to do what I wish. So many years previously I've taken up invites very kindly given, but I wish I'd said no to some at least. Then kids came along and it's all different for them, now they've left and live on different continents and I wont see them but thats ok too.

It's my dream to go away for Christmas, I will do it one year.

I’m not sure if it’s still on but I watched the Eras tour on Disney+. That would take up a few hours.

I hope you have a nice day.

Interested to look at these. As once my lovely parents are no longer around, its just me. Have family but not close and live miles away.

I think I would be upset spending it alone even though I spend huge amounts of time on my own 🥺

Careful @Doubledded123 - polishing your halo that hard will give you tennis elbow.

I already volunteer a day a week throughout the year servicing the wishes of my miserable selfish ungrateful allotment plot holders so I have a break from them at Christmas.

I am childless, single and have no nuclear family so I’ll be having smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel for breakfast before heading out on a long hike in the South Pennines. Then back for a hot shower and M&S’s sous vide turkey thigh joint, roasties, stuffing and veg. Then reading and an early night.

@Ratisshortforratthew i have a small child so can’t just pack and go but once he’s older and independent… I have plans. Looots of plans 🤣

Is this just for Christmas day or do you mean single people should volunteer every day of the year because otherwise they are sitting home alone?

Can I join you too @Viewfrommyhouse? That sound wonderful. I have 2 autistic teens who'll probably stay in their rooms most of the day, so I'll pinch some of your ideas, enjoy!!

Some nice food from M and S or Waitrose's
On online exercise video. Pilates or similar.
An audio book to listen to.
Then I would have a look online and decide what I wanted to order myself as a gift in the Boxing Day sales.