Alone On New Year's Eve? 10 Ways to Beat Loneliness

New Year’s Eve is often marked by loud celebrations and staying up all night at public gatherings as the clock strikes midnight. People congregate in their local clubs and bars to welcome in the new year. Sometimes people make trips to locations like New York’s Times Square, Sydney Harbour, and Taipei 101 to take part in the final countdown alongside hundreds of others.

New Year’s Eve is celebrated as a secular festival around the world. Those who do not have a plan for New Year’s Eve may experience heightened loneliness around this time. Here are 10 tips that can help you manage loneliness on New Year’s Eve.

1. Make it a self-care dayTurn December 31 into a self-care day. Take a long hot bath, use a face mask, and order your favourite food. You can also book yourself a massage or a spa as a treat. You can use this time to deep clean your room and set your wardrobe so that you move into the new year with a more organised surrounding.
2. Watch New Year’s Eve specialsMany TV shows run special New Year’s Eve shows and broadcasts that live telecast events like New Year concerts and countdowns. Watching New Year’s Eve specials can help one get a sense of participating in celebrations without going out.
3. VolunteerMany animal shelters and other non-profit organisations face a shortage of volunteers or staff during the holidays. You can volunteer at one of these places on New Year’s Eve. This will not only distract you from feeling lonely but will also make you feel good about serving the community.
4. Go to bed earlyIn case you are feeling too anxious or overwhelmed about being alone on New Year’s Eve then there is nothing better than calling it an early night. An early New Year’s Eve means that you will wake up fresh and well-rested the next day.
5. Reach out to your loved onesWhen we are feeling alone and vulnerable, reaching out for company can be the last thing on our minds. However, reaching out to our loved ones and talking about our feelings can make one feel much better, and more often than not people are happy to help or lend an ear.
6. Reframe negative thoughtsPay attention to your thoughts and identify the negative feelings. Then try to reframe the negative emotions and thoughts with a touch of optimism. For instance, instead of fixating on “I am alone on New Year’s Eve”, try thinking “I’m alone this year but this does not mean I will be alone always.”
7. Practice gratitudePracticing gratitude by listing three things that you are grateful for or three things that made you happy, can help shift focus from your loneliness.
8. ReflectFor many people, the time around New Year calls for retrospection and reflection. Use your New Year’s Eve to journal and look back at the past 12 months and all the lessons you learned.
9. Book a therapy sessionIf you are feeling particularly depressed or anxious then it can be helpful to book a therapy session and go over your feelings with a professional.
10. Keep yourself busyBeat loneliness by keeping yourself busy. Go to the gym, schedule a pottery workshop, or clean your apartment. By being immersed in a task you will be able to keep the sense of loneliness at bay.