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12 Days of Christmas - Day 1: A partridge in a pear tree
For many of us, Christmas is a time for family celebrations – to relax, unwind, and spend our days enjoying the festivities along with a mince pie and a glass of something delicious.
But for others, Christmas is not the joyous time of year that marketing campaigns would have you believe.
Perhaps you’re going through a divorce, been recently widowed, have strained family relations or are spending the holidays alone. Or perhaps you don’t celebrate Christmas due to your religion
There are many different ways to spend your time during the festive period that don’t necessarily fit the traditional mould.
Let’s take a look at some alternative ways to spend Christmas:
Volunteer
Not everyone is having a great time at Christmas for all sorts of reasons.
That’s why volunteering can be so rewarding over the Christmas period. Not only is it beneficial for the person you’re helping, but is also a valuable use of your time and can help your wellbeing, too.
Here are a few different things you can do:
- Deliver food parcels
- Help at a soup kitchen
- Organise donations at a shelter
For an extensive list of volunteering opportunities in your area, visit Do IT | Connecting people to do good things
Take yourself somewhere memorable
Christmas doesn’t have to mean staying in. Draw up a list of quirky places you’ve never visited before.
Join an online party or event
If you can’t leave the house for any reason, you can join a virtual party instead. There are plenty to choose from – just do a quick search online.
If you’re feeling in the mood for some Christmas-themed entertainment, you can join a virtual panto online to take you back to your youth. Or why not try a virtual Carol service?
Become a house-sitter
Just like Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, you can use the festive break to house sit for someone else. It doesn’t cost a penny, and you can go and stay somewhere else.
You can either just house sit or pet sit, so you’ll be looking after a cute kitten or some adorable friendly dogs. Or perhaps, just a couple of monsteras or cheese plants.
For house sitting opportunities, visit House Sitting | TrustedHousesitters.com.
Plan your perfect day
Although the media tells us that Christmas is a time for family and connection, in truth it can be whatever you want it to be. Instead, why not make the most of this time?
Plan out your perfect day to the hour– what you will eat, what you will watch, how you will take care of yourself. Remember to add in time for pampering and self care too. Gather together some of the funniest comedy shows you have, arm yourself with some delicious food and drink, and get cosy on the sofa.
Reframe the narrative
Just because it might seem like everyone around you is spending time with other people, it doesn’t mean they are necessarily having a great time – it could be the opposite.
Think about how you can view the day in a different way instead – as an opportunity to relax or to eat food you enjoy. The day is completely yours so why not become the partridge in your very own pear tree!
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A highly respected and experienced lawyer, Katherine leads the divorce and family team in Leicester.
Katherine has achieved her exceptional track record through a calm, level-headed approach to securing the best possible outcomes for her clients, including cases involving children, business interests, trusts and inherited wealth.
