Christmas is actually a few days away, and I am far away from home which means I am going to spend the holidays away from my family and close friends, again. No meeting with uncles, aunts and cousins. No gathering in the village to celebrate the end of the year. #Sigh. However, I know my situation is not peculiar, after all, not everyone has that luxury to travel home, especially in this weird year of Covid. So many people are stuck in different parts of the world unable to join their families for Christmas. #Sniff.
It’s hard to spend Christmas alone. The first time I did, way back in 2015, I cried my eyes out on Christmas day. Initially, when I found out I wasn’t getting a break from work, I thought I would be okay. It was my first job, I was an intern and for some reason, we had work to do through the holiday season. I didn’t make any concrete plans since I had to work on Christmas day but when the day came, and I called my family, hearing everybody together, I burst into tears.
Now, I am a pro. I haven’t been home for four Christmases, so let me tell you how to wing it.
If it’s your first time, don’t be alone
Christmas is best spent with family and if you can’t be with your biological family, what about your friends? If you can, cook and invite other people who like you are spending Christmas alone. Or, if you have friends who invite you to their homes, don’t sulk, wear your shoes and go be merry. If you are the church type, why not attend church services in the days leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Day? Please, do this with caution, Covid is still outside.
Volunteer in Christmas charity groups
There are lots of charity organisations that assist the poor of our society during Christmas. They give out food, clothing, gifts, sometimes, volunteer in one of those. The planning and executing process will fill up your time, and also, you get to meet other volunteers.
Plan Activities
Besides Christmas day, the holiday is about two weeks. Don’t leave your calendar empty. Those books you planned to read during the year, the movies you queued up to watch, this is the time. If there are leisure places you’ve always wanted to visit, this is the time.
In conclusion, the gist is to reasonably fill up your time to fight loneliness. You also don’t want to do too much and start the new year stressed out. After all, Jesus came into the world to bring us all peace. Rest and rejuvenate for the new year.