11 Tips For Celebrating Thanksgiving Solo, From Someone Who's Done It

When I celebrated Thanksgiving solo in 2018, one of the ways I made it special was by watching as many of my favorite holiday-themed TV episodes as possible. I watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving episode Friends had to offer, plus hilarious and heart-warming holiday-themed episodes from series like American Dad, Family Guy, Gilmore Girls, The Mindy Project, and New Girl. I highly recommend it.

Just because you can’t physically be with your loved ones doesn’t mean you can’t connect with them on Thanksgiving. Whether you’d prefer to FaceTime, hop on a Zoom call, have a good old-fashioned phone call, or stick to texting, checking in with your loved ones is one way to make the holiday feel more “normal.”

If your idea of a perfect Thanksgiving meal is Chinese takeout and Twinkies, great! If you want to cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner for yourself, awesome. Whatever your preference, just make sure to enjoy your favorite comfort foods on Thanksgiving – after all, good food is kind of the star of the show when it comes to this particular holiday.

If you’ve already decorated for the winter holidays, good for you. If not, your solo Thanksgiving holiday might be the perfect time to do it. I decorated for Christmas when I celebrated Thanksgiving alone, and it made me so happy. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, or all four, decorating for the holidays is guaranteed to boost your mood, and it will instantly add a level of coziness to your home. Just make sure to listen to holiday music as you decorate!

Thanksgiving is all about enjoying delicious, traditional, comfort foods (it’s my favorite thing about the holiday), but food insecurity is a major problem in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the issue, and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. If you’re able, consider donating to one of the many charities currently working to end hunger in the United States.

For most of my adult life, I’ve taken an after-dinner walk on Thanksgiving. If you live in an area where you feel comfortable walking alone – whether in the woods, at the park, or around the block – I highly recommend it. It’s a great time to meditate on all the things you’re thankful for, and there’s a good chance you’ll smell fantastic Thanksgiving dinner smells, delightful chimney smoke, or both. Just be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

At-home pampering is a fun and healthy way to self-soothe, and it’s especially fun to do while you’re eating your favorite comfort foods and watching your favorite holiday-themed TV episodes and movies. Face masks, deep-conditioning hair treatments, and bath soaks are my favorite ways to pamper myself at home, but I enjoy a good mani-pedi as well. If you like painting your nails, these winter-themed nail polishes are superfestive.

Personally, I enjoy getting dressed up on Thanksgiving. I always dressed up for my grandma when she was alive, and I’ve kept the tradition going since she passed away. If you can relate, get dressed up this Thanksgiving, and share a picture of yourself – whether on Instagram or in a texting chain with loved ones – in your holiday best.

Perhaps in 2020 particularly, donning your favorite sleepwear set is a form of dressing up, too. Whether you’re rocking matching flannel pajamas, a luxurious silk pajama set, or your favorite sweatpants and fuzzy robe, spending the day in your best sleepwear is a wonderful way to embrace a solo Thanksgiving. If you’re looking to update your pajama collection ahead of the holidays, check these out.

I don’t know about you, but over the years, I’ve come to realize much of what I was taught about the first Thanksgiving – and early American history in general – might not be entirely true. Certainly, some important details were left out, and not all Americans’ perspectives were included. With that in mind, one way to honor the holiday during your solo celebration is to take some time to do some unlearning – this article is a good place to start.

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