10 Top tips on how to survive Christmas on your own

Do you look forward to Christmas? Some people feel sad during Christmas for many reasons. They could have just lost a loved one, living far away from family and friends, recently single and divorced.

I found this interesting article on how to survive Christmas on your own and there are some really good tips that could make your Christmas enjoyable and meaningful. Enjoy!

Alone at Christmas? - 10 Tips to Survive (And Even Enjoy) Being on Your Own at Christmas
By Janice Robertson

This post is written for anybody who may not be looking forward to spending Christmas on their own.

I have spent several Christmas's on my own. The first time, I was not really looking forward to it. I was single, I'd just moved into my own flat and I had no close family to spend Christmas with. After the initial, realisation and sadness that I really was going to be on my own, I decided that I was going to get through the day and have as good a time as I could. I ended up having a really good day and choose to spend Christmas on my own for several years afterwards until I got married.

I think learning to be on my own at Christmas has actually made me more resourceful and self-reliant.

If you really don't want to spend Christmas day on your own then you have several alternatives. You could go on holiday where there are lots of other single people. I spent one Christmas as a single person on a tiny island designed for backpackers and travellers off the coast of Fiji. I woke up at 5am on a wonderfully warm and sunny Christmas day, wandered down to the beach, sat on the sand and dipped my toes in the water. It was great fun, very beautiful and very spiritual. There were back-packers there aged from 17 to 70!

Or you could spend the day as a volunteer perhaps working with the homeless or with animals in shelters. Giving of your time and your energy can be very satisfying.

I think there is so much pressure and expectation to have a fun and jolly Christmas surrounded by a loving family that if you are on your own you can feel lonely and at odds with everyone else.

So, here are my tips to survive (and dare I say even enjoy) Christmas on your own:

1. De-clutter and clean up

Start now to have a good clean up and de-clutter. De-cluttering tends to have a therapeutic effect and makes you feel good. Getting into action also tends to help you to lift your mood.

2. Plan Your Christmas meals

Plan what you are going to eat and drink over the festive season, including breakfasts. If you will be spending Christmas Eve at home don't forget to have something nice for that as well. If you don't feel like cooking then you can always get ready meals. On my Christmas Day, I would have a lovely breakfast. Then I had a glass (or two) of Champagne while I cooked my dinner. You don't have to cook traditional Christmas Food. This is your day, you can have whatever you want. If you are drinking alcohol though, please remember to eat something even if it's just snacks so that you don't just get drunk and morbid.

3. Buy Yourself A Present or Two!

Treat yourself to a present or two and wrap it up so you have something to open on Christmas Day. I always used to buy myself some cosy socks and new lingerie.

4. Plan what You Are Going To Do

Plan what you are going to do - watch TV, listen to music, play dvd's or playstation games, or you can go online to chat with others on different forums, facebook or twitter. Or curl up with a good book. Do not watch sad films or listen to sad music! Find something to make you laugh.

5. Start the day off well

Open the blinds to let the light in. If it's mild enough then open a window even just for a short time to freshen the room. Have a lovely bubble bath or shower, wear aftershave or perfume, makeup, and get dressed. I have spent the day in my jammies however I always have a lovely bubble bath beforehand, and do my hair and make-up before putting on my cosy socks.

6. Dance Like No One Is Watching!

Put on some up-beat music and dance like no-one is watching. Okay if you don't like dancing then how about going out for a short walk? It will lift your mood and bring a rosy glow to your cheeks.

7. Don't Assume Everyone Else Is Having A Better Time

It would be great if we all came from loving families who got on well with each other. The truth is for a lot of people being thrown together with people who at any other time of the year you wouldn't normally hang out with can be very stressful. If your mind starts to wander off in this direction then make a list of everything good about being on your own from having control of the tv remote to eating what you want. You might well be having the best time of all!

I remember the first time I spent Christmas on my own I did feel a wave of sadness that I was on my own and I had a little cry. I found that I felt better afterwards and together with some loving self-talk I was able to move on and enjoy the rest of the day. This might sound strange but I do talk to myself on lots of occasions! It really does help.

8. Don't Allow Other People To Feel Sorry For You!
One of the things I learned to avoid was well meaning friends who assumed that I was going to be miserable spending Christmas on my own. It really didn't help feeling sorry for me. And I'm sure there are several people who used to feel unnecessarily guilty because they didn't invite me for Christmas. The truth is I would much rather spend Christmas on my own, in my own home, with my own things around me than be somewhere else where people felt sorry for me.

9. Create A Cosy Atmosphere

Later on in the day create a cosy atmosphere. Fairy lights can create a lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere along with lovely spicy scents. I used to get and decorate a Christmas Tree but if you are not into Christmas decorations then candles or a nice fire give off a lovely glow.

10. Things Change
You may have heard the phrase: This Too Shall Pass. You may be alone today but this could change. So take each Christmas Day as it comes.

If you do feel that things are just too overwhelming then here are some useful links for you:

Useful Links:

Samaritans - for confidential, non judgement emotional support rel=nofollow http://www.samaritans.org/

Befrienders Worldwide - for emotional support for people in distress rel=nofollow http://www.befrienders.org/

I invite you now to sign up for my newsletter at: http://janicerobertson.co.uk and connect with me here on twitter at: [http://twitter.com/Janicerobertson]http://twitter.com/Janicerobertson.

Janice Robertson is an experienced Life and Career Coach specialising in helping people to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Alone-at-Christmas?---10-Tips-to-Survive-(And-Even-Enjoy)-Being-on-Your-Own-at-Christmas&id=3368902] Alone at Christmas? - 10 Tips to Survive (And Even Enjoy) Being on Your Own at Christmas

Facts on flirting

New posting....

How to get the best out of online dating service.

As online dating becomes more popular, there is also an increase influx of internet dating sites With so many online services available, it can be confusing on which site to use. The secret to using online dating service is choosing the site that best erves your needs.

- What are the criteria of finding the right person? Is it important to find love locally or how do you feel about finding someone who live in another country? Some online dating sites provide a database of people residing near you. However, if distance is not a concern, there are many internet dating sites with a global database of people to meet.

- To help you save time and reduce the chance of meeting the wrong person. Many online sites also provide compatibility or personality test to help you narrow your search for love.

- Do your research. Check out reviews on online dating sites and read other people’s experience with the online dating site.

- Sign up with internet dating sites that provide free trials. Most of the free trials last from 2 weeks to a month. Some dating sites do not have a limit on the time you spent online but would require you to subscribe once you found someone you would like to communicate. The advantage of using these sites is you can take your time to look for the right person and pay for the service only when you are ready. It also allows you to get use to the idea of online dating as you would have spent time reading the profiles the people and understand the workings of the online dating site.

- When you join an online dating service, you will be asked to create a personal profile. It is important to create an interesting and honest profile. Write something witty that will catch other people’s attention. Remember that whatever you have written in your profile is the first impression you want the world to see. It could make you attractive or seem unapproachable. Do not attempt to deceive by over glamorising your profile or telling untruths. If you do and are found out you may have wasted months of your own time getting to know someone.

- It pays to be vigilant when looking for love online. Do not give too much information about yourself online. Exercise common sense and it’s always good to be cautious than to regret later. Do not give your personal home or work address or telephone numbers out until you are sure of the person and then only give the bare minimum of information necessary.

- Trust your instinct, if you feel uneasy about your online date, you have the right to stop all contact. You can let your online date down gently but do not hang on just because you don’t want to offend.

Useful resources for Online dating sites reviews

Is online dating for you?

Online dating has grown in popularity as a source of finding love and finding your life partner. However there are many concerns about the security and effectiveness of online dating.

In the ideal world of boys meet girls; fall in love and get married, such occurrence don’t happen easily to some people. A busy professional, a shy person or a person lacking in confidence can find it difficult to meet the love of their life. Sometimes, the age factor can limit the possibility to finding the right person too.

Online dating is like modern matchmaker.Online Dating have open up many opportunities for men and women finding love and marriage all around the world.

There are advantages to online dating:

In online dating, the intention is clear. You could be the most extroverted person, you could have lots of friends and activities but that doesn’t mean that the people you meet could share the same intention as you about finding a soul mate. The people who sign up with online dating sites have one common intention, that is, to find a soul mate. Communication becomes open and honest when that intention is known.

Or

Perhaps you are an introvert and you find it difficult to engage in a proper conversation. When creating your profile in the dating site, you have time to organise your thoughts and present them in the way you are most comfortable in. It is also not intimidating to engage initial contact with fellow online members through writing. You have the time to get to know the other person without jittery and fear of creating a wrong impression. Once you are comfortable with the person, you could then decide to take the next step of communication.

Of course there would be danger in online dating. There will be unscrupulous people in online dating sites preying on unsuspected people. Practice due diligence, do not divulge in your personal information like your home address, personal email and even work or financial situation too easily. Be aware that there are bad people around. Read articles on how to be safe in online dating, how to avoid mistakes in online dating and how to create a genuine and interesting profile that will attract the right kind of people.

Online dating has become more acceptable nowadays and it is slowly losing the stigma of ‘only for the desperate’.

Online dating sites have evolved and have become more sophisticated in their service to their members.

Most online dating sites offers free trial service for people to try the service for a short period of time.

What not to do on a date.

The possibilities of a relationship flourishing into something special can sometimes be damaged by not doing the right thing on a date. Unless you are not interested in the person which we should then question our intention of meeting the person. Bad dating practices and habits could rob you of any potential happiness you could have with your date.

Here are some tips on how you can avert dating disasters:

Be a good conversationalist

A good conversation is two way communications. Do not dominate or bore your date about yourself and neither should you let the other party dominate the conversation throughout. Take time to ask your date questions about themselves and their views. Contribute in between information about yourself to show that you listened and you want your date to know about you too.

Punctuality

When you practise punctuality for your date, it shows that you care and respect the person. This is especially important when going on a first date. It shows your desire to meet the person and you are interested in them. If you think you are going to be late, always call your date and let them know that you will be late and the reason.

Dress and look appropriately

Take time to groom yourself, dress appropriately and look smart for your date. What you wear not only show your interests, it could also create a wrong impression. For example, a sexy, cleavage revealing dress on a first date could attract sexual interest. You could miss the chance of getting to know each other based on common interests and views. So not dress untidily as if you have been cleaning your car or you have just got up of bed.

Be attentive

Stay attentive to your date. Avoid looking at other people when your date is talking. Some people fidget a lot on a date, playing with table napkin or fiddling with their drinks. It is very distracting and shows your disrespect and disinterest for your date.

Avoid talking about your ex

Talking about your ex especially on a first date is a no go zone. Firstly, it could override your initial intention to know your date better and reduce the chance of knowing each other better. Furthermore when you talk about your ex, it could show that you still have emotional attachment to your ex. It could prejudice your chance of finding if your date is right for you.

Take care of your drinks

It is not a good idea to over indulge in alcoholic drinks. You could be a good drinker or you could become uncouth after a few drinks, having too many drinks on a date is not a good thing. Excessive drinking on a date not only gives the impression of an addictive personality, too much alcohol could hinder your judgement.

Be yourself

Do not lie or pretend to be somebody else. Some of us say things or behave in the way we like to be seen, which is often not our true self. How long can we carry on this pretend? Isn’t better to be yourself and if the person love you, it will be for who you are and not you are trying to be.

Avoid political and religious topics

Political and religious topics should be avoided on the first date. The reason is we all have different views and we would not want to turn the first date into a debate or an argument. First date should be relaxed, fun and non confrontational. It’s not the time to push your beliefs and views on others. It is fine having different views but that could come on subsequent date when both of you become well acquainted.

Bad dating practices could prejudice you and make you seems disrespectful and disinterested. You could miss out on a chance to further a relationship with the right person.


Wouldn't be great if all of us have a chance to make right a disaster date....perhaps not like the way Adam Sandler have to do in 50 First Dates with Drew Barrymore. This is a funny and heartwarming comedy, a feel good film that could give you some first date tips.

Make Love Happen @ friendsunlimited.eu

Making dates more fun and enjoyable

Do you feel nervous on your first date? You know you have been on a great date when you end the day feeling happy, relaxed and wishing it never end.
Dating need not be a mundane experience. You can have an enjoyable and fun date by following few simple ideas:

1. Find out your date’s interest. You could go on a date based on the interest of your date or otherwise, it will help make interesting conversation with your date.

2. Go on an activity date like paintball shooting, mystery night or attend a salsa class. First dates like this will ease both you and your date into a neutral environment dispensing any initial awkwardness or shyness.

3. Doing an activity together on a date also help create conversational topic avoiding the need to make funny sentence to break any silence.

4. If weather is not on your side, you can have a theme date like cafe hopping or bar hopping. Moderate movement such as going to different places take away any monotony and create a sense of fun.

5. Be a good conversationalist. Being a good conversationalist means to be an attentive listener and being interested in your date. Some of us make the cardinal rule of either talking too much about ourselves or allowing the other person to talk all the time without any contribution from you.

There are many dating ideas that can make your dating experience a fun and enjoyable one. However, it is also important to remember not to overdo the activities. Moderation is the key and being sensitive to your date is important. Occasionally check with your date if he/she is enjoying herself/himself. Do not indulge in activities all the time without finding conversation moment. The date should be not only be fun and enjoyable for both of you, it should also be the platform to find a common ground.


300 Creative date ideas is a resourceful book with many interesting ideas on how to have the best dates and making great impression first dates. Find out more about 300 Creative Date Ideas here.