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Nice solo activities over Christmas hols

19 replies

Mybatteryisoutofcharge · 03/12/2023 13:24

I will spend about 90% of the Christmas break alone. I have to take 2 weeks off work as the organisation dictate 2 weeks at this time. I have someone to spend Christmas Day with but I have the rest of the holidays to fill. If you had to do this, what would you do? I will go away for a couple of days but I can't afford a longer trip. Money is tight. I live rurally so city activities not possible. I have a dog.

OP posts:
AyrshireTryer · 03/12/2023 13:28

In the run up to the holiday make a list of jobs, treats etc.
e.g. put up that picture, paint that scuffed skirting board, go to the cinema, eat a whole bar of dairy milk.
Then cross things off your list as you go.
Reading with a dog lying on me softly snoring is a very rewarding task.

Mybatteryisoutofcharge · 03/12/2023 13:31

Thank you. Snoring dog while reading sounds very sweet.

OP posts:
cheezncrackers · 03/12/2023 13:32
  • See what's on locally - a Christmas market, a carol service at your local church, etc. Do you have a parish magazine or similar? Look in there, if so.
  • Do you have a cinema nearby and are there any films you want to see?
  • Make a list of jobs you want to do around the house.
  • Make a list of books you want to read, box sets you want to watch, a knitting/crocheting project you want to do or whatever your interests/hobbies are.
  • Plant some bulbs to come up in the spring.

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HoHoHoliday · 03/12/2023 13:33

What's your angle with the question?
Is it, I'm lonely, how can I fill all of this time by myself?
Or is it, I have all this time gifted, what would you do if you had two weeks spare?
No right or wrong, just checking what sort of ideas you're looking for.

Mybatteryisoutofcharge · 03/12/2023 13:41

HoHoHoliday · 03/12/2023 13:33

What's your angle with the question?
Is it, I'm lonely, how can I fill all of this time by myself?
Or is it, I have all this time gifted, what would you do if you had two weeks spare?
No right or wrong, just checking what sort of ideas you're looking for.

The first one

OP posts:
Feelingcrappy2 · 03/12/2023 15:37

I love to go local (ish) town centers and soak in the festiveness. Lots of towns have christmassy events going on so worth a google.

Never done it but pottery painting is quite ‘in’ at the moment (also makes a nice gift for somebody).

General Christmas window shopping with a nice hot choccie in hand.

Garden centres are magical this time of year, always worth a visit.

Making the flat/house nice and festive and a cosy place to be.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 03/12/2023 15:46

I do a combination of chilling out and getting stuff done. So definitely a couple of days reading nice food, good TV, cinema and or theatre, maybe lunch out. But also spring cleaning or even DIY! It's nice to get that done then when everyone emerges from their family Christmas fug and is ready to play again, you're all good to go 😊

PTSDBarbiegirl · 03/12/2023 15:58

I would stay in pj's for quite a few of the days. Pre buy all my favourite foods so I can look forward to nice meals whenever. Buy a jigsaw in a charity shop as a project, maybe try a craft using something simple or try drawing or painting. Maybe get a tin of paint and re-do a room in something cool. Lots of moisturising, walking, music, books and clearing out. Enjoy!

Mybatteryisoutofcharge · 03/12/2023 16:10

Thank you everyone. There's some things there that I hadn't thought of.

OP posts:
HoHoHoliday · 03/12/2023 16:48

As some others have said, make a list of the little jobs or tasks that need doing at home and spend a day or two getting things done. Similarly, have a spring clean one day.

Leading up to new year I always like to spend some time thinking about what I would like for the year ahead. Can I afford a holiday, where would I like to go, would I take up a new hobby, when will I book some time off, what do I need to save for, should I take a training course. Doesn't need to be fixed, but I enjoy putting a loose plan together for the year.

As you live rurally, look up some local walks, perhaps there are rural pathways or routes you haven't done before?

Are you confident to organise a local meet-up? Local facebook groups, the website called meet-up, community pages - if you have the confidence to do it you could put a message out inviting others who are spending some time alone to get together. It can just be a walk or a coffee.

I also spend a lot of time by myself, through circumstance, not by choice. I try to orchestrate conversations through doing regular activities. For example I go through the supermarket checkout with a person on instead of the self checkout, and ask whether they've been busy, had a nice Christmas. Same in a cafe, ask someone a question. I go to my gym and make eye contact, drop a comment and chat. Stop to chat to another dog walker about their dog. None of these are meaningful conversations but it does involves speaking out loud to another person and a brief human interaction, which makes a difference when you spend days at a time alone.

Floralnomad · 03/12/2023 16:52

I’d be taking my dog to all the NT / EH places that are driveable on the days they are open and having a walk and a coffee . Aside from that I’d read and veg in front of the TV .

tealgate · 03/12/2023 16:56

There's a one way dog walk I want to do locally, where you take the train and then walk back across great countryside to the prior train station! I've got it all mapped out. I'd take a flask of soup and a roll and take my time 🐕

MrsAmaretto · 03/12/2023 17:00

I would Footner my feet 😆🤦‍♀️ Sorry! But if I could plan a couple of days just hanging about watching films, eating some posh ready meals and whilst it worked and then emmerge with some gorgeous feet I would feel awesome! I’d maybe do that near the end of the two weeks?

So I’d plan relaxing time, some productive time and end the two weeks with relaxing footner time and also dig out my iPl thing for zapping my hairy legs. Sorry to bring the tone of your thread down!

Draconis · 03/12/2023 17:43

I would look on meetup.com and find a group that socialises or walks somewhere near that you can get to.

ManchesterGirl2 · 03/12/2023 17:53

Maybe pick one new skill that you'd like to learn, and find some good tutorials on youtube. If you worked on it a little each day you'd see progress in a couple of weeks. Some ideas might be:

  • how to draw
  • how to cook a particular country's cuisine
  • the basics of a new language
  • how to knit
I'd agree with others about trying to find some meetups or community events too. I hope you have a nice time.
NotFastButFurious · 03/12/2023 18:08

I love a jigsaw or two over the Christmas break!
also decluttering a room / cupboard
lots of long walks during daylight (a rare treat in winter if you work full time!) and stops at the pub for a pint.
enjoy not setting the alarm, last Christmas I think I slept for at least 9 hours a night for a week, and some nights longer!

hattie43 · 03/12/2023 18:36

If it was me I'd be weather dependant.
Dry days I'd go for a long walk , one day countryside one day woods , explore new places.
Rainy days , take my dogs take a book and sit in a good coffee shop .
I love a good declutter at home to include tidying up the garden
Have a long date with my sofa and Netflix
Plan next years holidays and when I want off work .
Then I'd tackle my Lego and jigsaw piles and bet building .

OneCup · 03/12/2023 18:37

I would plan: one physical activity (swimming, running, cycling, hiking etc), one arts and crafts one, one cerebral one (language, read particular book/writer, music, etc) and learn to cook/perfect to cook a particular dish, and alternate between those.

Twazique · 03/12/2023 19:24

I would:
Take my dog for a walk somewhere new
Go to a local museum
Listen to the Dark is Rising on BBC Sounds (starting on the 21st)
Go for a wander around our local Christmas Market
Buy a bottle of Mead
Catch up on some films I would like to see (with the Mead)
Go to the cinema
Have a bath (usually no time!)

Really like the idea of planting some bulbs as mentioned up thread.

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