New Year’s Eve can truly be one of the most high-pressure nights of the year. There are so many expectations to have amazing plans, an incredible outfit, and, of course, the dreaded midnight kiss. New Years’ is stressful, and there’s even more pressure packed on when you’re single. At its core, New Years’ should just be an opportunity to celebrate the year with the people you love, and if that doesn’t include a significant other, guess what? That’s okay. If you’re flying solo this NYE, don’t succumb to the pressure! This night is for you and you alone.
If you’re still feeling unsure about what to do, or need some tips to help you make it through the holiday – good news! Here at Plenty of Fish, we’ve got you covered.
What to Do
Take Things Into Your Own Hands
Pity invites are the worst, especially on holidays centred around having a special someone. If you’re not in the mood to play third, or fifth, or ninth wheel, get the jump on everyone’s plans and have your own party. If you don’t mind hosting, planning your own NYE event is truly the best-case scenario. You can invite who you want to spend time with, and you don’t even have to leave the house – the party comes to you!
Get Out of Town
If you’re feeling the need to just get away from it all, grab your bestie and have a New Year’s road trip. Wherever your home town may be, there’s likely a fun new town to explore just a short drive away. Whether you just stay the night or make it a weekend affair, a night out on the town in a new place could be just the NYE adventure you were hoping for.
Make it a Family Affair
No, it’s not lame to hang out with your family on New Years’. Spending time with family on high-stress holidays can help you appreciate what’s really important in life as well as take the pressure off to have big plans for the evening.
Have a Girls (or Boys) Night Out…. or In
Whether you gather your single squad or convince your coupled friends to ditch their SO’s for the night, a girls or boys’ night out will always make for a memorable NYE. Hitting a club or bar with the intention of sticking with each other for the night eases any worries of whether or not you’ll meet someone, or who you’ll be with when the clock strikes midnight. Or, if going out isn’t your vibe, gather your group and vow to stay in instead.
Just Say F**k it and Stay In to Treat Yourself
If you’re a homebody at heart, and just can’t muster up the energy to head out on the town, you can boycott the night all together and just take care of you! Run a bath, order in from your favourite restaurant, and binge your favourite show because everyone deserves a night to themselves, even if that night is New Years’ Eve.
Things to Remember
Your Friends are Still Your Friends… Even if They’re Coupled
I don’t know about you, but more often than not when I’m with my girlfriends, it’s their boyfriends that end up feeling like a third wheel. Just because your friends have their partners with them, it doesn’t mean you have to feel like the odd one out. I promise you that your friends and loved ones want to spend time and celebrate with you just as much as you want to with them. There never has to be any weirdness.
It’s Just Another Night, Don’t Put So Much Pressure on Yourself
It’s totally normal to feel like your New Years’ Eve has to be out-of-this-world amazing, and you have to have the best plans, the best outfit, and find the best date. If you find yourself feeling this way, just remember that New Years’ Eve is just another night and you don’t have to have everything planned out. If you keep your expectations low and your spirits high, you’ll have a great night no matter what you end up doing.
New Years Kisses are Overrated
I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again: you don’t have to kiss someone at the stroke of midnight. Silly societal traditions are made to be broken, and if you’re feeling desperate to find the perfect New Years’ kiss, you’re missing the whole point of NYE: to celebrate the year that’s passed and enter the new one however you feel most comfortable doing so.
Stay Positive, Have Fun
Sure, seeing friends with their SO’s on New Years’ can often make you feel down in the dumps if you’re currently single, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Being single is a chance to do things your way, and an amazing opportunity to spend time doing whatever makes you happy. Whatever your plans end up being, make a conscious effort to stay positive and have fun – you deserve it!
