December 24th 2023.
For many, Christmas can be just a little bit too much. More than half of Brits find this time of year stressful, and two in 10 say they don’t have enough time to relax and enjoy time alone. Meanwhile, two fifths feel they can’t say ‘no’ to an invite and 23% say they feel relieved when the busy period of socialising is over.
Adela Mei, a 51-year-old life coach from Somerset, loves spending the season alone. She wakes up on Christmas morning and enjoys the quiet while everyone else is doing their own thing. Then she packs some mince pies and goes on a big bike ride to Cheddar Gorge, which she finds incredibly peaceful. After her ride, she heads back home for a long hot bath and watches mindless Christmas comedies until she falls asleep.
Adela doesn’t buy or receive presents. She does cards because she likes people to know she is thinking of them. She finds the impact Christmas has on the planet upsetting and unnecessary, and finds that a Christmas alone is freeing. It’s her time and she can do things her own way.
Scott Dixon, a 53-year-old consumer rights expert from Edinburgh, will fly to Benidorm in Spain before Christmas and stay until spring. He prefers spending the day outside a beach bar watching the world go by and taking in some live music. He enjoys the warm sunshine and friendly atmosphere, and meets lots of other people who are spending Christmas alone.
Scott loves the laid back atmosphere of Benidorm
Scott is also glad not to be part of all the commercialisation of Christmas. He doesn’t understand why people are getting themselves into debt and stress for the sake of one day when life is precious. He is renting an apartment for 74 days, which will save him money on his electric bill while he’s away.
For Adela and Scott, Christmas is the most relaxing, quiet, and slowest time of the year. It’s a time to escape the stresses of the season and enjoy some much-needed peace and quiet.
For many, Christmas is a time of joy and cheer, but for others, it can be a little too much. From argumentative relatives to feeling like you can't say no to an invite, it's no wonder two in ten Brits say they don't have enough time to relax and enjoy themselves. That's why many are choosing to do the festive season their way, whether that's hitting the open road or jetting off to warmer climates.
Adela Mei, a 51-year-old life coach from Somerset, loves spending Christmas alone. Every year she takes a digital detox and has a spring clean, and on Christmas day she takes a long bike ride to Cheddar Gorge. With a background in environmental science, she doesn't buy or receive presents, but sends cards to let people know she's thinking of them. Adela finds peace in the quiet of a Christmas spent alone.
Consumer rights expert Scott Dixon from Edinburgh is also opting for a solo Christmas. He will fly to Benidorm and spend Christmas day in a beach bar, taking in some live music and watching the street acrobats do stunts. Scott finds the commercialisation of Christmas tedious and is glad to be away from it. He also finds it's a great way to save money as he will be able to work remotely while he's away.
For both Adela and Scott, Christmas alone is a freeing experience. As Scott puts it, "life is precious, why not live for today?". Whether it's a digital detox or a sunny escape, spending the festive season alone can be a great way to re-energise and relax.
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