Spending my first ever Christmas alone

[happygertie]

After the break down of my relationship I am spending Christmas Day alone. It is partly by choice, I do have lovely family and friends that would be happy to host me but due to some other commitments I have it’s not worth the faff. I’m a bit worried on the day it will hit me that I’m alone on my favourite day of the year so looking for recommendations on how to make it feel special and indulgent. I would have gone away but have work either side so can’t make it work. Suggestions welcome

I always think there is far to much hype and pressure to have a perfect Xmas, it’s just one day, treat it as an ordinary day with some nicer food.

Enjoy the day however you chose OP and remember lots of people are in the same situation. Good luck

I’m not sure it’d be classed as a treat.. but I’d get myself one of those Lego build type things, i absolutely love building things like that and I feel like a solo Christmas Day would be ideal time to do it, some TV on in the background, bottle of wine…

I think I’ll carve out a solo day over Christmas to do this myself actually!

Thanks everyone will take the suggestions on board and make sure I have nice things to look forward too. It’s tricky one as I haven’t left an horrible relationship, there was no abuse or poor behaviour and I actually look Christmas and being the perfect host, I would spend months planning the menu and buying the perfect gifts etc so being alone isn’t a relief, it’s the opposite to what I typically enjoy about Christmas, think I will miss the chaos and noise

Is there a volunteer Christmas dinner place, such as for the homeless that you could volunteer for? I know someone who does that every year and loves it

You can still love Christmas, planning your menus and buying super gifts.

This year's special guest is you!

Something I will say is that the day will go by in a flash. It really will. If you take your time over breakfast, then reading glossies over fresh coffee, having a scented bath at midday, you will be in to the afternoon, something on the TV, more nice things to eat, the afternoon merges into evening and you can go to sleep having had a great day.

PS I listen to Radio 4 all the time; they have interesting programmes on Christmas Day too.

I would get a 1000 piece jigsaw, some nice cheese, some nice wine, and listen to an audiobook and the Adam and Joe Xmas special podcast while enjoying all of the above. Hope you have a lovely day although it will be different.

Food!

You need to go all out, posh crisps, chocolates, booze, good quality mains

Tv

A boxset - I recommend saving Vigil on the iplayer for Xmas day - or ted lasso!

Cosyness

Spend the day in your pjs, get the home all cold and snuggle on your electric blanket

Mumsnet

For the chat! I'm alone with autistic dd, so when i'm not playing with her, i'll be popping on

Its gonna be alright xx

Can you invite people to come and stay with you if you can't travel because of work either side but don't really enjoy being alone at Christmas time.

Unless the rest of your year is an empty void …no you won’t miss the “noise”.

It’s a fab day in its own right - it feels special without anyone, honestly. But also it’s really nice to have one day that’s totally calm. Traffic quietens, shops are shut, work places close. Just enjoy the novelty of peace.

I get marooned away from family every few years due to my work pattern.

my strategy is nice easy food - I tend to do M&S veg, and trimmings (no turkey) and a good cheeseboard.

get up late, Nice brunch. Walk. Christmas Dinner . Hallmark movie. Bed. I enjoy it. Family politics are overrated!

I spent it alone once under similar circs. Genuinely one of my best christmasses. I bought loads of food that was easy to prep, saved up some tv and movies, got myself something to do on the day (eg Lego, a puzzle) as a gift to myself. I lit candles I’d been saving, wore cosy new pjs and did some pampering. I also planned a nice walk that went past a local coffee shop I knew was open and I just enjoyed a full day with no guilt about being productive, no dealing with anyone else’s moods or schedules, it was lovely.

I’ve had some christmases alone and my answer was:
a walk to somewhere very popular on New Year’s Day but deserted on Xmas day
a new jigsaw
lovely food
a new book

hope you have a lovely time 😊

I’ve done this the year before last, so get some delicious food in for a day and a nice bottle of something, treat yourself
to some nice bath body stuff, put some music on , movie and go for a
walk somewhere nice, I really enjoyed it, over the previous busy days of spending all day with people I hardly see , I really enjoyed the day and I’d have no problem doing it again.

I have my solo Christmas planned. I am a Mass-goer so it would be my normal early Mass for me then into the Cathedral for the full choral experience.

Then home for a nice ham with salad and probably half bottle of champagne to drink over the afternoon and evening. A good book to round it off.

I have no need to be warm and cosy. Windows open, sunshine, summer dresses are de riguer for the day.

However, first to find my solo Christmas.

Find out if the local parkrun is open on Christmas Day and walk that with your dogs, plenty of people to say Merry Christmas and good morning to along the way if you want to. (Parkrun isn’t just for runners and it’s whatever you what you want it to be in terms of involvement, we have lots of walkers at our local one, some walk together, some alone or with their dogs)
Then back home for a nice breakfast.
As others have said, order your favourite food and drink for throughout the day.
Have a lazy afternoon watching whatever you want, or read a book.

First solo Christmas for me too 😊, I’m planning to buy myself a surprise gift from Mysterybox, save up Celebrity Traitors and have all the food I don’t usually allow myself. Wish everyone a merry Christmas on Wattsapp and even have a look on Mumsnet as there’s always a thread about how shit and disappointing the day itself is 😆. When I was married I hated Christmas Day with a passion as we always hosted and I had no choice at all, so this year I’m determined to bloody enjoy it xx

The social.media platform is not real ! Just remember that people.only posting because they want others to think their having the most amazing time if they were they wouldn't be posting on socials they wud b to busy enjoying themselves !!
Also I have no social media anymore and I don't miss it one bit !!
So if u do want to ween yourself off for Xmas maybe set your phone to limit when u can go on socials if u don't want to not avoid then just keep in mind what I said above ! X ❤️

Also M& S food get your yourself a hamper and fill it up with all your faves! Get some luxury pjs and matching dressing gown and cosy cosy x

Which museums open on Christmas Day?!

Lucky you, it will be fantastic.
I don't know of any London museums that open on Christmas Day but, if you can afford a couple of nights away, then Amsterdam, Vienna and Venice are all perfect for museums and galleries on 25th....bliss!

Ripley's believe it or not museum

I do similar every year. Last twenty five years or more most have either been entirely alone, alone with young child, at home with just DP, at home alone with pets, at home with DP adult DC. No other family.

like to do non Christmas stuff just standard food or crackers and cheese. Usually a walk around the block. One year a drive to the seaside with hot choc and mince pie and sandwich for my Christmas lunch. If I decide to have a veggie roast, usually I don’t, i have it Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day.

I do like a new jigsaw, a new book, a crossword book, the tv guide to highlight what I’m watching, carols on the radio.

Oh avoid social media for sure! It’s full to the brim with show-offs, and fakery. A mood killer, if ever!

I spent several Christmases alone when I was widowed in 2018. I bought as much pre-made M&S nice food as possible, slept in a little, walked Ddog, watched all the stuff I’d recorded during the weeks before, had a glorious posh bath and new pjs. My friends rang me for chats and all in all it wasn’t too bad. Tell yourself it’s just 24hrs in your life, it will pass. Look ahead to the spring, and don’t put too much emphasis on
“The Day”
wishing you well🌸

So not a solo Christmas, but this year DH and I thought we would be on our own. For a number of reasons we wouldn’t be able to host. Normally we have at least 2 parties and then lunch/dinner on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day with a minimum of 6 people. I was so looking forward to doing what posters have suggested upthread; a walk, a grazing board, M&S prepared food, a film. Then DS and his gf informed us that they would be staying with us as it’s only fair because next year they are going away with her parents and didn’t want us to feel left out! Didn’t matter how much I protested, they are adamant. Problem is next year our reason for not being able to host others won’t exist. Groan.

ETA: I really do appreciate and love the fact that people want to spend time with us and realise others are not so lucky. But I’ve been doing Christmas for 42 years and I was just looking forward to a bit of simplicity rather than entertaining everyone. There may come a time when I will regret thinking this.

@Pedant61 Yes to Venice! I was there for Christmas in 2014 and it was wonderful. It didn't grind to a halt as England does, everything just worked. Vaporetti ran, bars were open, people were out and about. I just walked and took photos but it was fabulous. (Hope the photo makes it...)

Recommend France too. It doesn't shut down for days either. Bakers open on Xmas morning.