This article is written by Stephanie, 24 yrs.
Being lonely at Christmas is something that can happen to anyone especially when things inevitably change in our lives. As a young person, it's definitely something I have struggled with. I'm 24 now and still sometimes find Christmas can be challenging, but some of the tips later on in this article have helped me and hopefully will help you too!
Reasons why we may experience loneliness at Christmas
There are many reasons for experiencing loneliness at Christmas which are totally natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Some of these reasons include:
- Maybe your family doesn't look like a stereotypical happy Christmas family. This could be because you are separated from some people in your family if they live far away or have passed away, or maybe the family you have around you at Christmas is quite small.
- Lots of people struggle with being in their home environment away from their friends and normal routine during the Christmas holidays.
- The societal obsession with Christmas is reflected in the media and in every day life in the run up to and during the Christmas period. This can create a pressure to feel happy and make you feel even more lonely than you may already be feeling.
- Sometimes it's difficult to feel as excited by Christmas as you did when you were a kid. As teenagers and young adults we are often worried about other things and the magic isn't there anymore - that's ok! You will find techniques both to cope with this and also to find the same joy in other ways.
Ways to deal with Christmas loneliness
Remember there are always things you can do to make yourself feel better at difficult times including at Christmas. I've found these tips helpful and hopefully you will too!
- Keep in touch with your friends - even if you can't see other people in person, messaging to check in with your friends can still offer some comfort.
- Take time and space for yourself - easy things like going for a short walk by yourself if you're finding being at home with family difficult is one way to keep in touch with and take care of yourself.
- Although it's very common to watch Christmas TV at Christmas, don't feel pressured into this if it's not right for you. You could try finding something to watch or read that's completely non Christmas related to take your mind off things - this is totally ok and you'll feel stronger in yourself for doing your own thing!
- Try volunteering to occupy your time and give back to the community as well as using it as an opportunity to be around other people.
- Think of Christmas day like any other day and be kind to yourself - it doesn't have to always be really special and sometimes if you are just getting through the day that's more than enough.
- Remember you are not alone. Although it's something of a taboo not to enjoy Christmas, many people find it to be one of the loneliest times of the year.
- Talk about how you're feeling to someone you trust. This could be a family member, friend, teacher, counsellor or other mental health professional.
I hope this article has helped you to feel better about and deal with any loneliness you may be experiencing this Christmas. Keep an eye on the Mix’s online content for more information and advice about keeping in touch this winter.
This article is part of our 2025 Winter Campaign: Keeping In Touch - a campaign led by ten ten creative young people aged 18–25, each sharing their own winter survival tips to help you get through the season feeling connected.
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