The holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re single, it might feel like it’s at the corner of cranky and sulky. But reality check—this is actually a wonderful time to be unattached.
Don’t let the soft-focus commercials and holiday lights blind you from the fact that the holidays aren’t easy for everyone. It only seems like the streets are paved with love struck couples skipping down the lane, balancing a perfect Douglas fir between them. Even for happy couples, there’s a lot of pressure amidst the eggnog and sequins. There’s so much significance attached to holidays like Christmas and New Year’s. Because of it, many in relationships will be wondering if a proposal is coming their way, or discovering with horror that their significant other dresses up like his mother picked out his clothes. (There’s no Snapchat filter to fix that!)
So if you are a singleton, keep your chin up and embrace these five ways to, not just survive the holidays, but love them.
1. Embrace your freedom.
If you’re single during the holidays, there’s still plenty to rejoice about. You’re free of fretting about what to get your significant other. You get to be the person who only has to bring a salad or a cheese plate to family dinners. And you can wear and say whatever you like, without having to worry about getting a disapproving look from a partner. Sweet freedom is what you’ll find at the bottom of your stocking. Savor it!
2. Throw a party.
The best revenge for a singleton is to live well and have some fun. This is a great time to have a party. Try something manageable like a BYOB event or a cocktail party early on in the season, before everyone is exhausted. Personally, I’ve taken the party up a notch by hiring some handsome boy-band type bartenders. (If this is wrong I don’t want to be right.) My female friends have thanked me profusely. My male friends renewed their gym memberships. If you want to get really fancy but save some money, cooking schools are a great place to find students looking to make extra money catering. I like having two people, one to bartend and the other to serve hors d’oeuvres, which covers thirty people. You want to be free to flirt and have fun! Make sure you mix it up with old friends and new people you’ve just met.
3. Dress to kill.
I have a secret that I’m going to share because it’s genius… I had a tuxedo made for me in NYC because I was jealous of men always putting the same tux on for every occasion while I had to shell out for a different outfit every time. If you do the same, have one made with pants and a skirt so you have options. (Mine is in a dazzling deep chocolate!) Find a local dress maker ASAP. The other great thing to have is a jumpsuit. You can dress it up with snazzy jewelry or go funky with boots and a Fedora. No matter what you do, keep in mind the holidays are a time to get a little funky. Pull out that ugly sweater, wear some red sequins, and have a little fun with it.
4. Go to the movies.
This time of year is when the best films come out. It’s a luxury to just put life on pause for a few hours and be transported into another world. It’s also a good thing to do with a friend or family member you haven’t hung out with in a while. I love dissecting the film afterwards, discussing how we would have done it differently, or what star we would go out with if a Christmas miracle happened. And let’s not forget the holiday classics. A Christmas Carol never gets old.
5. Give back.
Did you know that cheering up someone that’s a little down will also buoy your own spirits? It truly is a way to give someone, and yourself, a holiday gift. You’ll also never regret volunteering at a charity or a shelter during this time. Helping others also makes you realize what you have to be grateful for.
Before you know it, the holidays will be over and you will have not only survived them, but enjoyed them in a way you never thought possible.
