How Do I Cope When I am Alone on New Year's Eve?

10 Tips to Beat Loneliness on New Year's Eve

By Arlin Cuncic

Updated December 26, 2013

New Year's Eve can be a tough holiday to spend alone. It is one of those days of the year that most people spend with signficant others, loved ones or friends. If you are spending New Year's Eve alone either due to social anxiety or for other reasons, there are steps you can take to prevent yourself from feeling down. Here are some tips on how to cope when you are alone on New Year's Eve.

1. Remember that being alone is temporary. Although you are alone this New Year's eve, it doesn't mean that you will be again next year. If you are alone because of social anxiety, vow to make changes in your life so that you will have company a year from now. Get help for your symptoms and connect with others through support groups and forums.
    
2. Reflect on the year. The last day of the year is a great time to think back, particularly if you are alone. Think objectively about the year and any progress that you made with respect to social anxiety. Congratulate yourself for successes and achievements whether they were big or small.
    
3. Watch fireworks. If there are fireworks at a public venue in your area, consider going alone to watch them. Spending time with a crowd of people might help to alleviate some of your feelings of loneliness and watching the fireworks could lift your spirits.
    
4. Read a book. If you enjoy quiet nights at home, why not treat this as just another quiet night? Choose a good book that you can't put down and spend the night reading. If you really want to get a jumpstart on making improvements for the following year, select a self-help book for social anxiety.
    
5. Make resolutions. New Year's eve is a great time to polish off your list of resolutions if you haven't already done so. Resolutions can be about anything from general life improvements to specific concerns related to social anxiety.
    
6. Go back and accept the invitation. Perhaps you received an invitation to a party that you turned down. Maybe you would have been a single among couples or the thought of spending the evening with a group felt like too much. It isn't too late to go back and accept that invitation. Consider it a chance to brush up your social skills and usher in the new year with a resolution to attend more social functions.
    
7. Do something mundane. New Year's eve really is just another night. One way to cope with being alone is to do mundane things and ignore the hoopla surrounding the holiday. Clean your house, organize your office, or catch up on your sleep. Don't let tradition dictate your choices if you just don't feel up to celebrating.
    
8. Rent movies and watch the ball drop. If you are staying in, consider ordering pizza, renting a good movie, and watching the ball drop in Times Square. These are solitary activities that give you the flavor of the holiday and help you to feel like you are participating from afar.
    
9. Plan some phone calls for midnight. Have people call you or plan on calling others right before midnight so that you have someone to share the countdown with. You don't have to stay on the phone for long; just ring in the New Year and then get back to your solitary celebration.
    
10. Connect in real time on Twitter. If there is no one that you can call on New Year's Eve, connect with others in real-time on the social networking site "Twitter." Watch as people around the world post New Year's updates and ring in the New Year through each of the different time zones.