Sometimes you can’t make it home for the holidays, or maybe you just don’t want to. Either way there is no reason to feel down. Take a page from little Kevin McCallister and go wild, enjoy your freedom. Start your own traditions, have something that makes it feel like the holidays for you, gets you in the spirit, or makes you forget it’s even Christmas. This may be something traditional or nontraditional. Here are a few tips to get you thinking:
Get away from the routine. Go on a trip. I think some people get sad when they can’t make it home but going on a special trip can help with homesickness. Make sure it is somewhere that will have places open on Christmas and you make plans accordingly. You just need to plan ahead. If you can’t get too far, consider going to the beach or mountains in your area. Renting a cabin or house on the beach can be a great change of scenery.
Get your couch time in. Plan a few days snuggled down with your honey (or just a friend), Netflix, and some good snacks. Make staying in an event. Plan what movies to watch so you don’t get into the whole, what do you want to watch conversation. Do a marathon (Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings), catch up on a series you might have missed, or do a movie theme (Christmas movies, Halloween, a certain director or actor). Plan plenty of snacks, and a crockpot meal or take-out.
Establish traditions that are uniquely your own or ones that reminds you of home. P and I like to cook a special meal if we are home on Christmas day. We do something involved and comforting, like short ribs, risotto, or ragu. Every year we have a special bottle of beer on Christmas Eve and watch The Christmas Story. You could have a day baking cookies or making fudge, make decorating your tree an event, or take a drive to see the lights. Do something you can both enjoy.
Do something not holiday related. Plan a picnic, indoors or out. Have a summer theme night with summer food and activities. Do something outside of your box. Go on a hike, take a class together, or anything that is not something you do on a regular basis. It can be big or small. When was the last time you did a puzzle or had a gaming challenge?
However you choose to celebrate, I wish you a…..
I’ll be taking next week off, but will be back the following week with lots of plans and goals for the new year.
What are your holiday plans?
I enjoy seeing family but I would dearly love to spend a holiday where it’s just the two of us so that we can set up our own traditions, decorate our own tree, do our own celebration. I feel like I haven’t quite graduated to the big kids table yet, still heading out for the holidays.
Last year Sam and I did Christmas just the two of us and I loved it. This year we are back on the big family schedule, which I’m excited for- but oh the peacefulness of last years! x
🙂 i don’t think i would mind a christmas just the two of us. i feel like going home to the family.. while it’s good to do it.. can be really stressful.
I’m actually a lot of jealous! We celebrate approximately 7 Christmases every year…it’s exhausting.
I’ve always had small holiday celebrations as it’s usually just my mom, my sister, and I. I do look forward to bigger gatherings in my future, but also appreciate the simplicity of just two..or three. 🙂
Great ideas! When Troy and I are alone for Christmas we usually try to have a special meal and enjoy some holiday movies. Now that we have a fireplace it’s that much better! Have a great week off. Merry Christmas!
My husband and I are hosting a huge turkey feast tomorrow as some of our friends have to drive 2 or 3 hours to join us so we decided to have it on the weekend. As for Christmas Day, my husband and I will be enjoying the day together and cooking together. Plus, we have many customs we do together on Christmas day!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you as well!!
Great tips M! I love Christmas with just the two of us, and after we have dinner with family one night we always enjoy our husband+wife(+Corgi) time. But so far we have been very predictable and boring (dinner and movie), maybe we will venture out into the world this year!
I like the idea of bringing your family’s traditions into your smaller celebration, with unique twists. Happy holidays!
These are great ideas! I won’t be able to spend it with my family this year unfortunately but I’ll be heading to Dallas with my two friends to stay with the boyfriend’s aunt and uncle who were very kind to offer me an orphan Christmas.
Happiest of Holidays!
i love this. i want KC and i to have traditions of some sort – i don’t want them to be ‘american’ or ‘australian’, because neither feel right. new ones. i love the idea of going somewhere, we are going to NYC but come home christmas day – his mother would kill us if we were gone the whole time, ugh.
We aren’t going anywhere and it’s going to be glorious. We have brunch reservations at 1pm and movie plans that evening.
I always want to do a trip, but MFD would never go for it over the actual Christmas holiday.
I think my mom and I are going to do a trip over the holidays next year. It really takes away the pressure, planning and stress- at least I hope it will! Enjoy your celebrations!!