Anyone spending Christmas alone this year?

[Mysterious Gurl]

Hello, (:

 

I'm 21 and I'm doing a degree at uni. I live half way accross the country from my family which makes visiting tricky. Most of the people I know live locally or close enough that they could go home for a weekend but because of the distance for me, I can only visit when term ends. This year I'm having to face Christmas alone because my part time job wont allow me to take time off (understandable as it's the busiest time of the year). I tried getting someone to swap shifts but no one will. So I'm going to be alone, I've been trying to pretend it's not a big deal so that when the 25th comes, I wont feel so bad ... but it's not working.

 

I really miss my family and I'm going to see them before Christmas but it's not the same ...

 

Any suggestions of what I can do to make this a little easier? None of my friends fully appreciate how hard it is for me because they don't have job commitments. Every time I speak to the family over the phone, my eyes water and I feel so low ...

 

Any suggestions would be great!

 

Kind Regards,

 

MG

[ks240030]

If you are in the US, I would recommend that you join link removed. I am sure that there are a lot of people that are spending Christmas alone. Go to the internet and search for people who are spending Christmas alone, I know there are groups that volunteer on Christmas.

 

I even read in a blog in the Washington Post that there is this guy who is going to a fancy restaurant late at night on Christmas Day and treating himself for a nice meal because he does not have enough vacation days to visit his family.

 

One Christmas, I almost spend it by myself. I went to the supermarket bought a bunch of delicious foods. Rented a ton of movies and I was going to spend cooking, eating extremely well and watch movies. I was totally ok with it.

[Mysterious Gurl]

Sadly I'm in the UK however I really like your idea of movies and films!

That actually sounds really amazing (:

[d24]

poor you (int he missing your family sense, not the alone at xmas sense). hope it's not snowed-in where you are that might make things harder still.

 

If you can't be with family, be with friends. And if there are none of your friends local, then all I can do is suggest finding someone locally who will be happy to hangout with you. Plenty of websites and socialising opportunities to find out and you have a good 3 weeks...

 

I've spent one Xmas alone, it was actually pretty fun! Movies, PJs all day, Xmas-Pizza (with turkey of course) haha...

[annie24]

I've also spent christmas alone, but somehow every year, some of my friends (or friends of friends) do too, and we have an 'orphan christmas.' dinner at someone's house, everyone who is around shows up.

 

maybe you can host a similar event, find out who will be in town. or yes, get yourself invited to such an event. personally, i like them.

[DN]

You could try volunteering for the day at a long term care faciilty or a shelter.

[alli]

I won't be with any family or friends this year; I'm actually just keeping my fingers crossed that I won't have to work much that day! My mom already sent me a few gifts so I think I'll open those on Christmas, have some moderately good food & maybe watch a movie. Looking forward to being home next year though. Just try to find things you enjoy doing that day that you don't normally get to do. You could even buy yourself gifts you really want before then, wrap them & open them on Christmas (hey, who knows what you want better than you, eh?)

[Fudgie]

Volunteering is great.

 

I won't be with my boyfriend for christmas this year. He'll be alone and I'm so sad for that.

 

I spend the days before, during, and after christmas at the hospice house, working there and taking care of the patients. The night nurse gets to spend time at home and I'll stay up all night. My family is sad but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. When you're ill and dying, you should never be alone.

[bulletproof]

Get up early, take a walk, then go volunteer to serve an early afternoon meal for the homeless somewhere. Then when you're done get all those good movies one poster mentioned, your favorite meal, and spend the time relaxing- no work or school, which I imagine doesn't happen very often. And make sure you have a nice long phone call with your family members if you can.

[theartofruin]

The volunteering idea is awesome, not sure why I've never thought of it before myself. I am usually abroad for most Xmas's & spend it with strangers, but this year I'm at home with family (and dreading it because of a recent break up, boo hoo) so have been looking to getting away but have limited money. Was thinking of going to stay with friends out of town, but might just stay here and do volunteering to make the day actually special and memorable!

[RelaxByWater84]

Is there any way your family could come to you?? You could also volunteer at a soup kitchen. I had some friends who did that and said it was a joy serving others. Could you get a few days off after Christmas to visit your family?? I know at my place of work if your family is some distance away from you they will see that you get some time off before or after Christmas.