Tips for Spending Thanksgiving Alone
The internet is full of lame advice on what to do if you’re single and alone on Thanksgiving.
Have a spa day for yourself with a pumpkin facial, knit a sweater for your cat, make ornaments out of useless junk around your house, be grateful—well duh!— take yourself out to dinner (ok, I kinda like that one), and more
The point is, riding solo on Turkey Day doesn’t have to suck gizzards. Whether it’s by choice or circumstance, spending Thanksgiving alone can actually be really great.
Read on for Truthatude’s best Thanksgiving tips when you’re spending the day on your own.
10 solo thanksgiving ideas
1. Book a Cruise!
Treat yourself to an awesome time with a solo Thanksgiving cruise. You can find pretty cheap three-day cruises – especially if you’re lucky enough to live on the coast (shout to Floridians!)
Solo traveling is a great experience, and there’s no time like the holidays to plan an exciting, new adventure.
2. Get Social
Use social media for what it’s for!
Post a poll on social media and ask if any of your friends are also flying solo on Thanksgiving and see who’s interested in having Friendsgiving Odds are that you aren’t the only one who couldn’t front the dough (like what I did there?) on a plane ticket back home.
If enough people respond, why not host a “Friendsgiving” or as l call it Feast of Friends!
Or if you don’t want to host, why not be vulnerable and ask if any of your friends has an open place setting for the holiday? I know this one will require next-level bravery on your part – but hey, we’re risk-takers, aren’t we?
What if you end up having the best time ever? What if your friend has a delicious cousin visiting from out of town? You never know who you could meet!
A cruise and Friendsgiving won’t work for everyone, but if those don’t work for you, and you know you’ll be hanging solo, then here are a couple practical and enjoyable ways to spend the day.
3. Netflix Binge
Thanksgiving is a day of gluttony after all. Order in takeout (Chinese is always open!), curl up on your couch and settle in for the ultimate streaming session.
Pair this with a book you’ve had on your reading list for months, give yourself an at-home mani-pedi, clean out your closet, and do anything else that’s been on your to-do list that you’ve haven’t had time to get around to.
4. Cook Your Own Feast
Whether it’s for only you and you and friends, mix up the traditional holiday faves with some of these simple and yummy recipes that put a twist on the old turkey spread!
Turkey breast gravy over egg noodles – super easy cheat recipe
- Bake 1 medium turkey breast (season with Mrs. Dash) at 400 for 45 min, let cool and shred or dice
- Boil egg noodles
- Make package gravy per directions then add cooked turkey
- Serve turkey gravy over egg noodles and maybe toss a salad on the sideCranberry Meatballs: Add a Thanksgiving twist to a classic, easy dish.
Sweet Potato Bites: No Thanksgiving is complete without the sweet potatoes on the side, and these are easier to make and freeze for later.
Stuffin' Muffins: Like the sweet potato bites, make your stuffing in muffin tins for easier portions.
5. Offer to house sit for friends
If your pet-parent friends are headed out of town for Thanksgiving, ask if anyone needs a house sitter for the week. Getting professional care for pets while you’re away is very costly and your friends will be grateful to have someone they trust watching over their home and their fur babies.
Take yourself on a pseudo-staycation and capitalize on the snuggles with their dogs and cats (and make a couple bucks while you’re at it!).
6. Do a Selfie Sesh
Get dolled up and pick a few key outfits and do a mini photo shoot for yourself.
You could use these new shots for Christmas cards or professional photos for LinkedIn or even for your online dating profile!
Spending Thanksgiving alone isn’t like taking a weekend to yourself when you still have all your normal errands to run, so use this vacation time to do the things you’ve been thinking about but haven’t really had the time for.
7. Volunteer
Volunteering is always a great option—especially on a day of gratitude.
Don’t know where to go or running short on time?
Grab some gloves and a garbage bag and pick up trash in your community or local park
Find an animal shelter that could use an extra set of hands
Make some sack lunches and distribute to a local homeless shelter. Include items like turkey sandwiches, fruit, Gatorade and bottled water or juice, chips and crackers, cookies, and more.
8. Goal Setting
Most people wait until the New Year but why not get ahead and set yourself some holiday season goals for December while you’re at it?
It may only be a small chunk of time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start with smaller goals that will give you a strong start when New Year’s resolutions come around.
9. Write Your Xmas Cards
Go out ahead of time and get some awesome blank cards with funky designs or make your own holiday cards! They’re way better than the traditional Xmas cards from a box, and your recipients will be wowed by your thoughtfulness and creativity.
10. Make Your Gift List
Think about what you really want this Christmas (from yourself or others) ahead of time so you’re ready for the Black Friday sales! Scope out the deals so you can have a plan of attack, and read reviews to make sure you’re getting good stuff.
Spending Thanksgiving Alone Doesn’t Have to Be a Drag
There you have it! 10 simple and kinda quirky solo Thanksgiving ideas that will rock your Turkey day and help you enjoy your own company!
Whether you’re taking the plunge on a solo trip, hosting all your other single friends for Friendsgiving, or getting a jump start on your Christmas and New Year plans, spending Thanksgiving alone doesn’t have to be a downer.
The key is to start planning your Thanksgiving early and find what will truly make you feel happy and grateful. No matter where you are or who you are with for Thanksgiving, you’re in control of making it a meaningful holiday.