Are you spending Easter alone this year? Whether that’s because of social anxiety or because of the current situation of the world, I understand!
What I thought I’d do is round up a list of some things that you can do if you will be alone for Easter.
These tips are for people who are completely alone, so if you have family in your house that you can spend the holiday with, even better!
Follow a Routine
While it might be tempting to sleep in and waste the morning, try to get up at your regular weekly wake-up time.
Sticking to a schedule will help you to feel more in control and perhaps a bit less down.
Research has shown that waking up early can actually help to alleviate depression in some cases, so if that is you, an earlier wake-up time might help.
Beyond getting up at your usual time, consider doing all the other daily tasks that you might naturally feel like putting off today.
Make your bed, clean up the kitchen, and put in a load of laundry.
All of these steps are just to put you in a positive frame of mind and avoid slipping into the negative thought, “I’m alone at Easter.”
Get Dressed Up
Would you normally get dressed up for Easter if you were meeting friends or family? Then get dressed up even though you will be alone.
Dress for the social life that you want to have, not the one that you have now.
Sitting around in baggy sweats might make you feel more comfortable, but getting dressed up will make the day feel special.
If you’re looking for a way to break out of your comfort zone with your clothing, I participate in and recommend the style challenges at Get Your Pretty On.
You can choose between a stand-alone capsule wardrobe or join the seasonal style challenges and Facebook group to see what other women are wearing.
Go for a Walk
Repetitive movement such as walking or running can help to calm your mind (kind of like meditation).
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And if you do it outside, you’ll also be getting some Vitamin D.
While you might not feel like exercising on a holiday, just getting outside and going for a walk will help to clear your mind and boost your mood.
Reach Out Online
If there’s anybody that you can connect with over the Internet or telephone today, make a point of making it happen.
With technology like Facetime and Zoom, you can bring a friend or family member right into your home through video chat.
(And if you’re nervous about being on video, check out my post about camera shyness).
If you don’t know anyone who would like to talk, see if you can find any celebrities on Facebook or Instagram doing live videos.
You might have the chance to ask questions or even be a guest on their live if you are lucky.
Express Yourself
Find a way to express yourself, whether that be through writing in a journal, painting, working on an adult coloring book, or working in your garden.
Art is therapeutic and can help you to feel calm if your anxiety is bothering you today.
One of my favorite things to do when I feel stressed is to write! No surprise since I write so much for my day job as well as this site.
There’s something about sitting down and letting words flow that helps me to feel centered and better.
Find that thing for yourself that makes you feel that way.
Indulge in Food
Yes, I did say indulge in food. It’s one day out of the year (okay, maybe one of a few) where you really can’t go wrong with what you eat.
I’m vegetarian, so I won’t be carving up a ham, but I do like all the other foods that tend to be associated with Easter.
Even if you can’t be with friends and family, you could set a nice dining table, pour yourself your favorite drink, light some candles, and enjoy a feast.
If you’re looking for recipe ideas, a place I like to go for inspiration is $5 Dollar Dinners.
Erin specializes in dinner recipes that cost less than $5 to make, but she’s really got recipes for anything you could possibly want, all with low-cost ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions.
Help Others
It may not be your first thought to help others when you are feeling a bit helpless yourself. But, one way to feel better is to do something that gets you away from thinking about yourself.
Some fun ideas might be to leave a surprise gift on someone’s porch, send a letter to a grandparent, or write a nice comment on someone’s social media post.
Think of little things that will make others feel good, that you can do while you are alone.
Find Something to Control
When your life feels out of your control, or you are alone but you don’t want to be, one way to feel better is to find something you can control—and do your very best job of it.
For example, in the middle of the current isolation order in our province, I’ve turned to things like organizing parts of my house, focusing on getting my finances in order, and eating well/exercising.
If you aren’t sure how this will help, I recommend the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
Start a Long-Term Project
What have you been putting off that you could start today?
Some ideas might include writing a novel, losing 50 pounds, or organizing every area of your house.
It’s been said that we overestimate what we can get done in a day, and underestimate what we can get done in a year.
Set a big goal, then whittle it down to figure out what tasks you need to do each day to reach your goal.
Find Some Humor
We can’t all be serious all of the time. If you can, find something funny today or look for the humor in a situation.
Did you know that this is also an antidote to social anxiety?
Laughter yoga is one way to relax, and it’s based on the premise of having a good laughing session.
And also, improv for anxiety has been used to help those who are socially anxious, learn how to be more spontaneous, laugh at themselves, and find humor in situations.
Find Gratitude
Finally, if you are really struggling today, I suggest sitting down with a gratitude worksheet and writing down everything that you already have to be thankful for.
While this might not be an easy task, by the time you are done you might notice your mood has shifted.
My favorite is this gratitude worksheet shaped in a sunburst pattern.
Do you feel like you have some ideas to keep you busy on this lonely Easter? I hope so.
Whether you have social anxiety or are just feeling alone, know that this is just one more day of the year and it will pass.
Related Articles about Being Alone
- Printable Easter Conversation Starters
- How to Be Alone on Your Birthday
- How to Deal with a Lonely Christmas
WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE TOP TIPS FOR SPENDING EASTER ALONE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
Top Tips for Spending Easter Alone
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Jo says
I didn’t realize how truly alone I am today until I read this article. It makes me realize that in about 2 years, I will be 30 without a husband or kids. So when you’re enjoying your Easter feast, think of me and the people that have no on on the holidays or are hated so much for no reason that they are not invited…