How To Spend New Year's Eve Alone And Enjoy It: 10 No Nonsense Tips

10 Ways To Enjoy New Year’s Eve On Your Own

A young woman with long red hair, wearing a green sweater, leans against a window. She looks thoughtfully outside. The window is wet with raindrops, showing blurred colorful lights of a rainy evening cityscape in the background.

New Year’s Eve can be a great night for some – but for others, it’s just a reminder that they don’t have anyone to celebrate with.

If you’re going to be spending the night alone, you don’t need it to be a lonely affair. There are ways to spend this holiday on your own and have a brilliant time, even if the thought of it makes you feel stressed and anxious.

Let’s go through some great ideas to keep you entertained and happy this festive season…

1. Plan a movie night.

If you’re going to be spending NYE on your own, you’re probably not planning on going out to a bar.

Instead, make the most of having some downtime at home and plan a movie night. Choose a couple of feel-good movies, get some snacks, and get cozy on the sofa.

You don’t need to worry about feeling lonely as you’ll be distracted by the movie.

Choosing films you’ve already seen is a great idea, as you’ll probably feel quite comforted by familiar faces.

2. Schedule in a video call with loved ones.

A person sits at a table, smiling and waving at a laptop screen. They hold a mug in their other hand. The background is a cozy home setting with warm lighting and a blurred poster on the wall.

You don’t need to be alone-alone. You can still chat to other people and share some quality time – even if it’s over the phone.

Plan a video call with your friends or family. We’d suggest not doing this at midnight as loads of other people will be doing the same and the connection might not be great.

Instead, plan the calls early in the evening so that you can definitely see and hear the other person properly.

This idea is great if you are currently away from your loved ones, perhaps for work or study.

3. Cook up a storm in the kitchen.

A man in a blue shirt and brown apron skillfully flips a frying pan with chopped vegetables, causing them to soar in the air. He holds a pot lid in the other hand. The kitchen has a rustic brick wall, wooden shelves, and various cooking utensils.

Plan something delicious for dinner and set up a little date night for yourself. This is a special occasion, after all, and you’re worth spoiling.

If you’re feeling a bit anxious about spending New Year’s Eve alone, it’s good to plan things out that take some time.

If you’re focused on a task, like cooking, you’re less likely to sit and feel lonely.

Try to stay slightly busy without overwhelming yourself and the evening will fly by – in a good way.

4. Treat yourself with whatever brings you pleasure.

A woman relaxes in a bubble bath, surrounded by lit candles. She has her eyes closed, leaning back against the bathtub. The bathroom walls are tiled with a green pattern.

Do something lovely for yourself as a little celebration. That can be a nice glass of fizz to celebrate with at midnight, a toasty bath and unwinding session in the tub, or a tasty dessert.

Make this a nice evening for yourself so that it feels like an active choice to spend the night alone.

Try to reframe it in your mind – you’re not lonely, you’ve planned a great evening with yourself, for yourself, and that’s something to look forward to.

5. Get an early night.

A man wearing a light blue shirt is lying in bed, smiling, and stretching with both arms raised above his head. He is resting on white pillows and covered with a white blanket. The headboard is wooden.

One of the best things about spending New Year’s Eve alone is being able to make your own decisions.

If you don’t want a noisy night in a bar, you don’t have to go. If you want to have a bath and get an early night, you’re more than welcome to.

There’s no big pressure to stay up and celebrate – it can be just another evening for you if that’s what you want. You won’t be missing much, so do what’s best for you.

6. Don’t compare your evening to other people’s.

A man with short brown hair and a beard lies on his side in bed, looking at a smartphone he is holding in his hand. He has a tattoo on his forearm and is wearing a white t-shirt. The background shows a pillow and a headboard.

If you’re planning on being alone on New Year’s Eve, try to avoid looking at what everyone else is up to.

No matter how much you’re enjoying your evening, you’ll instantly feel a bit rubbish if you look at what an amazing time everyone else is having.

7. Don’t wallow in pity.

An older woman with short gray hair, wearing a pink blouse and beige pants, sits on a couch looking contemplatively out a window. She rests her chin on her hand, with decorative pillows behind her in a softly lit room.

You might be tempted to spend the evening reminiscing over better times, but this will just end up with you being really sad and feeling down and lonely.

And that’s the exact opposite of what you should be aiming for.

Try to avoid getting too mopey and sad. If you do feel like you need some time to mourn your expectations for the evening, set aside 10 minutes or so to be sad and then make an effort to be present again.

Set an alarm, give yourself some time to honor how you feel and then get back to having a fun evening.

8. Follow traditions on your own.

A distinguished man with a beard and mustache, wearing a beige suit and a navy polka-dot tie, is seated at a restaurant table. He is holding a fork and knife, about to eat from a plated meal. A glass of red wine is on the table beside him.

You can still do the usual New Year’s Eve traditions – you can celebrate at midnight, play Auld Lang Syne, and make resolutions.

You don’t need to share them with anyone else for them to be meaningful. You can make the effort to continue what you’ve always done on this night, just on your own.

9. Don’t be scared to change your mind.

Three men are sitting at a bar, raising their glasses for a cheers. They are dressed casually and appear to be enjoying their time together. There is a wooden bar counter and some background patrons blurred out.

You might have declined invitations with the intention of spending New Year’s Eve alone – but that doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind if it feels like the right thing to do.

Remember that nobody is relying on you so it’s okay to change your plans – even if it’s last minute.

10. Pretend nothing is happening.

A man with a beard is lying on a gray sofa, propped up against green and orange cushions, reading a book. He is wearing a casual, light-colored outfit and appears relaxed in a comfortable, well-lit room.

If you’ve chosen to spend New Year’s Eve alone, it might be because it has painful memories.

You’ll be in complete control of what happens on this evening, so you can pretend like it’s just a normal evening.

You can mute messages, leave your social media alone, and let your loved ones know that you need some space, just to make sure they don’t try to check in on you or worry that they’ve not heard from you.