How to Spend New Year’s Eve Alone and Enjoy It
A list of fun ideas for what to do by yourself on New Year’s Eve.
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Although TV, movies, and social media might have you thinking you need to be with others to properly celebrate New Year’s Eve, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many people actively turn down invitations because they prefer to have a cozy evening at home. And the older you get, the more likely you’ll choose to stay home and relax over going out. It can actually be really great!
There’s not a right or wrong way to spend the new year. While you might experience the fear of missing out (FOMO), you’ll also get to enjoy the comforts of staying in. I used to go out on New Year’s Eve, and now I prefer staying home. I never fully enjoyed being out on NYE because it felt like a letdown — the bars were noisy, seeing fireworks was cold and crowded, restaurants had expensive prix fixe menus. I stayed home one year, and after realizing how much better I liked it, I haven’t gone out on New Year’s Eve since. Granted, I don’t live alone anymore, but I still enjoy spending NYE with many of the activities in this list.
The holidays can be busy and stressful, so some years there’s nothing more appealing than being home on your couch in your pajamas to ring in the new year, even if you’ve been invited out. Or maybe your version of a perfect evening is being fast asleep before the ball drops. But it’s also understandable to feel a bit sad or lonely if you’re spending New Year’s Eve alone when you don’t want to be. Whether you’re looking forward to spending New Year’s Eve alone or are disappointed about it, I’m sharing ideas to have an enjoyable day and night that are all about making the most of it and entering the new year on a positive note.
These ideas will help you plan the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration from the comfort of your home.
Fun Ideas for How to Spend New Year’s Eve Alone at Home
You can start your own New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions by choosing a combination of activities you enjoy and celebrating in a way that makes you happy.
Treat yourself to a special meal
Whether you make a favorite recipe, try something new, or order delivery from a local restaurant, it’s a special occasion, so treat it as such! Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you can’t eat well. Even better if it leaves you with delicious leftovers for lunch on New Year’s Day.
Watch a movie or binge-watch a TV show
You can watch whatever you want since you’re alone! No one to have to agree on what to watch with. Get some fun snacks if that’s your thing, or add on one of the other activities from this list to do while you watch.
Watch the NYE concert, ball drop, and fireworks on TV
Watch the entire NYE performance from the warmth and comfort of your couch, including the concert, the ball drop, and the fireworks, while remembering how much better it is to be comfortable at home than to be standing in the middle of a cold and crowded Times Square with no bathroom access (IYKYK).
Listen to music, watch music videos on YouTube, or play an instrument
If you’re not watching something on TV, how about adding music to your night either by listening, watching, or playing?
Have a self-care or spa night
Choose activities that promote your self care, or have a spa night. Some ideas are a bubble bath, face mask, journaling, paint your nails, meditate, etc.
Play video games
If you like playing video games, take advantage of this opportunity to play them uninterrupted. You can play with others online if you want to connect with other people.
Reflect and look ahead
Review your accomplishments from this past year, and write your goals or resolutions for the new year. Is there a trip you want to go on, or a pottery class that you want to take? Is there a bad habit you want to break, or a good habit you want to start?
Do something artistic
Get creative with an art project, like a coloring page for adults, making a painting, drawing, or doing a diamond painting.
Make a fun list
I’m not talking about a to-do list (although that’s an option), I’m talking about lists you can make for the fun of it, like all of the movies you want to see, your favorite songs of all time, or a travel bucket list. See 250+ list ideas here.
Be super lazy and do nothing
Sometimes the best thing is just doing nothing! Don’t force yourself to do something on New Year’s Eve just because you feel like you should. Fully relax and recharge by not forcing yourself to do anything at all.
Be super energetic and do a workout
Start those new year’s resolutions early and get in a home workout before midnight.
Have a spiritual night
Do something that feels spiritual to you, whether that means a tarot card reading, cleansing rituals for spiritual renewal, or a smudging to remove negative energy from this past year and invite peace in your space for the new year.
Have a special beverage
Non-alcoholic or alcoholic, up to you, but treat yourself with something fun to drink. For non-alcoholic, you could mix up a mocktail, or try a new flavor of a fancy seltzer in a fancy glass. For an alcoholic beverage, you could make a cocktail or open a bottle of wine.
Try a new craft project or hobby
New Year’s Eve at home is the perfect opportunity to try a new craft project or give a new hobby a try. It’s also a great activity to do while you watch TV or listen to music.
Continue a fun project that you’re in the middle of
You finally have uninterrupted time to work on that fun project you started but never have time for.
Start a puzzle
I love starting a new puzzle for a relaxing night in while listening to music. And if you don’t finish it, it’s a nice activity to sit down to for 5 minutes here or 30 minutes there during the week following.
Go stargazing
If the skies are clear, get out your telescope and see what cool things the New Year’s Eve sky wants to show you. No telescope? You can download a stargazing app on your phone to identify what you can see with the naked eye.
FaceTime or Zoom with family or friends
If you have family or friends who live far away and are also home this evening, schedule time to have a video call with them so you can feel connected.
Clean your house
Definitely not everyone’s idea of an enjoyable evening, but for some people, starting off the new year with a clean house is just the reset they need. If you’d like to start off with a clean slate, consider tidying up your space, but make it more fun with music!
Read a book
A quiet night in while reading with the fireplace going, or with a fireplace video playing on the TV, sounds so cozy and wonderful. If you don’t have a physical book to read, you can download the free Kindle app to your phone so that you can read any Kindle ebooks you purchase, or find a free ebook to download. Choose a short book if you want to finish it in one sitting. See this post for ideas: Enjoy a Quick Escape With These Short Beach Books and Audiobooks
Related: 10 Fall Books to Get Cozy With
Pick up the New Year’s shift at your job
If you don’t want to stay home by yourself, pick up the New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day shift at your job. You’ll get to be around people and stay busy.
Make extra money doing food delivery or rideshare
If you work for a food delivery service such as DoorDash, or a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, you have the potential to make extra money delivering food to people who are staying home on New Year’s Eve, or keeping partygoers safe by transporting them to their destination.
Volunteer on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day
Animal shelters might need volunteers to help care for animals or walk dogs, or you could sign up to volunteer at a soup kitchen or handing out food at a community food pantry. Hospitals or children’s hospitals might also need volunteers. You’ll get to be with others while making a positive difference in your community.
Find a local Polar Bear Plunge to join on New Year’s Day
If you’re feeling brave, look up a local polar bear plunge for New Year’s Day and get your swimsuit and towel ready. If you haven’t heard of this activity before, a polar bear plunge is when people jump into a cold body of water to celebrate the new year. Some are just for fun, and some raise money for a charity.
Stay off of social media
The only people posting on social media are probably the people who went out to celebrate, when there are plenty of other people who stayed home just like you for an enjoyable evening but aren’t posting about it. There’s no need to make yourself feel down by looking at someone else’s highlight reel and comparing it to your own life, so do yourself a favor and stay off of social media. You’ll be happier for it!
Benefits of Staying in for New Year’s
- Spending less money
- Avoiding crowds and noise
- Catching up on sleep
- Doing whatever you want
- Less likely to be hungover the next day
- Getting to be with your pet(s) and help them cope with firework noise
There are many enjoyable ways you can spend New Year’s Eve alone, and having a positive attitude is key. Instead of looking at it as something negative, focus on how you’re ending this year and starting next year taking care of yourself, focusing on resting, recharging, and indulging in activities that bring you joy.
Don’t get stuck in the trap of comparing yourself to others’ highlights on social media. Most of the time they’re exaggerating how great everything is, anyway. There’s no one right way to celebrate the holiday, and however you celebrate it is just as good as how anyone else does. If you’re unhappy about spending New Year’s Eve alone, try to focus on all the good things in your life, the accomplishments you’ve made this year, and how you can start off the new year on the right foot and what you can do to have an even better year.
Anything can be special if you make it feel special. Put on your best pajamas, put clean sheets on your bed and make it, have a special meal and a special beverage, and do something that makes you happy. You deserve to celebrate that you made it through another year and that you have a new year ahead with many possibilities. Happy New Year!
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How to Spend New Year’s Eve Alone & Enjoy It
Which of these activities do you have lined up while enjoying a New Year’s Eve alone? Share your thoughts in the comments.
