WWYD if you were alone for Christmas Day?

[Kat19899]

Appreciate this is really early to think about but it’s popped into my head so want to get some ideas.

I think I will be on my own this Christmas Day with family living out of the country and friends out of the city. I have no DCs and no current partner. I’m looking at it as it might be the only Christmas I “get to” spend alone (as opposed to “have to”.)

A couple of years ago I spent Christmas with a friend’s family but it was a long day with family tensions and no guarantee she will ask again anyway.

I have bad travel anxiety so can’t leave the country but could travel between London and the south coast.

Would it be really weird to go to a fancy hotel and order room service? I don’t really want to be around happy (or unhappy 😅) families and don’t want people to feel sorry for me.

Aside from that or just staying at home, what could I do?? I really like the outdoors, obviously everything will be shut anyway. I looked into volunteering a couple of years ago but charities are really over-subscribed for December.

When I’ve Googled it all the articles assume I’ll be really sad on my own and that I hate Christmas which I don’t. Without going abroad what would you do if you were me?

Sorry, you’re not keen to travel, as you said. Somewhere on the south coast?

I’d probably go on a disney holiday 😂

so I don’t blame you for wanting an expensive hotel. Sounds like a good plan.

This idea sounds bliss. Was just thinking after years when the DC were little and it just being us now we have the biggest house we're the hosts for Christmas and that won't change for years between parents, siblings and children wanting to stay with us. So a solitary Christmas sounds bliss (closest I got was just me and DH when I was heavily pregnant with DD1).

Anyway, I'd probably want it at home, or possibly in a nice self catering place in a fab location. Not a hotel where there would be Other People's Families. Love the sound of the London cultural trip. At home I'd be tempted to do one of the Christmas or Boxing Day swims (can see the attraction of the Park Run as well but I'm not a runner). Any kind of ourdoor communal activity that is relatively short because Christmas Day is so often lovely and sunny. I'd have a spotless house (get the cleaner to come on Christmas Eve), a nice cooked breakfast, Bucks Fizz, an easy celebratory dinner (not a roast but if that's your thing DH and I had partridge when we had Christmas just for us which was a fun option). A good book and the best of the Christmas TV.

I am so jealous.

Make sure my house was tidy with lots of twinkly lights up, clean sheets, plants/flowers.
Have a stocking with lovely new books, fluffy socks, face mask.
Fridge/cupboards full of yummy stuff (smoked salmon, orange juice, homemade soup, cheeses and crackers, nice coffee). Make some bread and leave to rise.
Do some yoga or laze in bed reading.
Head out for a long walk in nature or drive to the sea.
Get back home for soup and fresh bread with baked camembert, and films/TV series that I've been saving plus new books!

Is it travel anxiety or flight anxiety? What about a cruise?

I’d book a lodge in the Lake District or Highlands, take a shed load of my favourite food and hole up for a few days with books and tv and walks to the wonderful views.

I have small children, and this is my dream no matter what the time of year!

I know I would find it hard, but a positive mindset is key.
In your place I would go to China town for Christmas in London! I would stay at a very non festive luxury hotel and hit the Boxing Day sales.

If I stayed at home, I would walk the dog it’s so lovely to chat to others on Christmas Day. Go to church, followed by drinks at the pub and chat to everyone there and have my favourite dinner delivered. Or eat Christmas treats and drink the finest 🍷 in the evening.

This is my idea of a perfect day!

Op, can you try meet up? Maybe there are others in your position or you could set something up in your area? There must be plenty of people in the same boat.

I bloody LOVE this idea

I know I would find it hard, but a positive mindset is key.

I haven’t found Christmas alone hard At All. Certainly didn’t need any consciously ‘positive’ mindset.

(And I’d find anything like Meet Up utterly horrific! There’s no shame or stigma in christmas-ing by one self, so I’d have no need or inclination to disguise it.)

@Kat19899
Have a night or two at the hotel and then enjoy the hotel gardens too.

I am a massive extrovert, so my first instinct would be to find other people. Pub, church, meet up etc.

Also, spending the day alone doesn’t necessarily mean one receives no presents from others.

I'd want to stay in a hotel with a huge bed and wear red satin pyjamas like Kevin in home alone, I would watch Christmas films in bed, and I would want an endless supply of roast potatoes and pigs in blankets with gravy and cranberry sauce. Ideally it would snow and I would watch from the window.

I’d book an off grid hut with a log burner and bring books, good wine, good coffee and good food, heaven.

A spa Christmas. Start the day with breakfast in bed delivered to your room. Watching a good film. Warm bath and a glass of champagne. Saunter down to the spa for a full body massage and facial. Decompress in the relaxation room and sleep. Followed by a sauna, steam and swim outside.
I would finish with a pedicure.
I would choose a hotel with ‘communal’ dining arrangements and after getting showered would have dinner with the other guests and enjoy a night cap under the stars in a robe on the balcony.

You can replace the dinner with a spa supper if other people do not appeal.

I beginning to imagine doing this myself
now!! Heavenly

I'd stay at home and cook/bake something very calorific to eat, and I'll spend the day watching Netflix.

It won't be a big deal for me - Christmas is just another bank holiday.

I had about 8 Xmases alone in my 20s through choice...I was single and really didn't want to spend it with friends and family.
I got Xmas day off as I worked as a retail manager.....nobody loved it! Ate out Xmas Eve with friends, then Xmas day was champagne, M and S food and videos (it was the 80s). No Xmas films or food...neither of which I like.
I still don't do a traditional Xmas in my 60s. Never cooked a dinner, done elf on a shelf or spent the 25th with extended family

Have you tried animal shelters? They are usually really stretched at Xmas because staff goes on holiday.

In reality I'd probably choose to be at home, but it would be a bit of a dream to be at a London hotel with a view of the Thames, with either midnight mass or Christmas morning at St Paul's, a walk along the Thames Path and a lovely Christmas meal. Tbh I'd probably choose a tray of nice stuff in my pyjamas rather than the full shebang in the restaurant with lots of applecheeked families.

Sounds like bliss. I hate the mess and stress of Xmas and its my turn to host this year in my 2 bedroom house!! Wish I could just go to a kid friendly hotel for 2 days with DD5 and not have to deal with the performance.

Whatever you do.. enjoy every second of it x

Ooh that sounds lovely!

I'd buy myself some lovely new pjs/loungewear, chose a new book and save it especially, same for a film or wait to rewatch your favourite Christmas film. I'd get lovely snacks and food from M&S, a bottle of bubbly and enjoy a lovely long walk.

I'd recommend getting a hotel by the coast or the lakes to enjoy some outdoor time x