How to Avoid The Holiday Blues
The holidays are not for everyone. Not everyone gets into the spirit. Some people don’t have great trips or families to visit for holiday cheer. Whether you have moved to a new city with no new friends, are separated from your family due to issues, or have to work during the holidays making it impossible to travel, here are some tips to try to make the best of the holidays and keep you from getting the holiday blues!
Friends are fate’s apology for family!
Friends can be a savior for distant (emotionally and geographically) family. Make plans with friends to have a potluck dinner or a secret Santa. If you’re low on funds, keep the gift giving under $20. I attended three Thanksgiving dinners before I went to my family ones and they helped me to appreciate the different groups of friends I have and helped me to realize I love my friends as much as my family.
Bars and clubs are not just for drinking…
Many bars and clubs throw dinners for people who are by themselves on holidays. Check your favorite places for specials. Even if they don’t have dinners, they may be open for entertainment. You may meet someone to spend the holidays with next year.
Explore the city, Carmen Sandiego!
Explore your city, whether you’re new to it or not, for some fun times. Look for holiday markets for some cool presents for your loved ones as well as yourself. Go ice skating, join a group in caroling, or check out some of the holiday displays in store windows. Every city has great new places to see, new places to eat and new people to meet.
These are a few of my favorite Things…
If you don’t feel like going out, but don’t want to sit around and mope, then entertain yourself with your favorite books, music and movies. If you’re tired of all your old things, buy a few new books, movies and music you’ve been meaning to get, but never got around to. If you don’t have the expense to splurge a little, hit up free sites like NinjaVideo.net to catch up on your favorite shows and new movies.
Skype the night away!
Skype is a godsend! It is a free program that lets anyone video chat to anyone else in the world as long as both parties have a webcam, a mic and a internet connection. If you’re far away from loved ones, a phone call is just not the same as seeing their great faces. You can even Skype over the holidays so you feel like you’re right there!
The original reason for Craigslist….
If none of these seem like good ideas, then try craigslist. Don’t make that face or scoff. Craigslist was originally made for connecting people for tickets, free stuff, furniture and other social interactions. Post a listing for dinner or going to get a drink with a stranger. Meet in a public place before in private to make sure they aren’t a seasonal serial killer!
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Christmas 2004 I spent by myself in San Francisco, 3000-miles away from my family. Turns out, all my other friends were off in other lands, and I got to spend some quality time by myself. I saw a lot of movies, got Chinese food, explored the city, spent time chatting with friends and strangers online, and generally caught up on my sleep. It was pretty awesome.
One thing I’d add to your list would be to volunteer at a soup kitchen or something on Christmas day, serving a nice meal to people less fortunate than yourself. You’ll probably have your spirits lifted while meeting like-minded and similarly lonely (or at least alone) people. Other volunteering over the holiday weekend would be similarly awesome.
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