Solo New Year: Top tips for having a good time on your own

On one of the most hectic nights of the year with a party atmosphere wherever you go, it can feel weird spending New Year’s Eve on your own. It feels like everyone’s out in huge groups, drinking, dancing, having a laugh and you’re just… sat at home. New Year's for singles can be even tougher still. Especially if you’re unfortunate enough to share friends with your ex. If that’s you, we feel for you. 

But the truth is, New Year’s Eve is just another night. If you want to make a huge deal out of it, you can. But if you find yourself at home on your own, that’s perfectly fine too. But being alone can be tricky to get the hang of. Especially if you’re a huge extravert who’s always looking for the next party. 

Whether you’re spending New Year’s Eve single or just on your own, these eight tips will help you make the most of the night. Let’s dive straight in…

Plan it out

If you’re prone to boredom or loneliness, having no plans will hit like a tonne of bricks. And once it hits, you’re stuck with it. Both emotions can be paralysing and once they take over, it feels like every attempt to get rid of them fails. Even the activities you usually enjoy can be a bit… meh. Prevention is always better than cure. Even when it comes to unwelcome emotions. So make some plans! If you have no idea what to do, stay with us, we might be able to help.

Dip your toe before taking the plunge

If you’re new to being on your own, being alone on an evening known for celebrating with loved ones can be daunting. And if you’re the life of the party, it can feel uncomfortable being stuck in a room with just you and your thoughts. It’s not as easy as it sounds. So instead of suddenly sitting on your Jack Jones on one of the wildest nights of the year, ease into it. Spend a few hours alone one day. Then a few more hours another day. By the time NYE is here, you’ll be a bit more comfortable with yourself, your thoughts and will probably have a better idea of how you’d like to spend your time. 

Get out and about!

Many of us feel uncomfortable at the thought of going out alone, thinking people are judging us, but who cares? Everyone’s too busy laughing at their friends, crying over something trivial or trying to nick a rollie in the smoking area. No one is looking at you. They’re too concerned with finding their friend who wandered off or dealing with the one who went too hard at pres. 

While we’re on the topic, think about that for a second. Think about how other people are too busy chasing their friends to enjoy their evening. When you go out on your own, you can do whatever you want, go wherever you want, and chat to whoever you want. It has to be said: solo nights out are underrated. 

If you’re ready for a great solo night out, check out what’s on - here.

Use technology 

After the train wreck that was the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re certain you’re more than familiar with Zoom, Teams and all those other apps that left us mouthing “you’re on mute”. While they can be a bit frustrating, they’re actually pretty powerful tools. You can connect with family, friends, or even strangers for an online event.

You can also use apps, forums, and websites to find people in your area who are looking for something to do but have no one to go with. The app Meetup is a great example. You can find people to do various activities with, including drinking, sports, yoga, meditation, exploring Christmas markets, finding singles New Year’s Eve parties and so much more. If you don’t want to spend the entire evening on your own, why not hang out with some new people? You never know, it could be the start of a lasting friendship. 

But stay off your phone

Using technology to carve out a great evening with other like-minded people is one thing, but aimlessly scrolling through social media is a whole other beast. If there’s one guarantee on NYE, it’s that socials will be flooded with pictures of people out with friends, them with their significant other, appreciation posts, and maybe even a “he proposed!” post. Not exactly the kind of content you want to see when you’re alone, even if you love your own company.

Also, it’s New Year’s! If you want to make a night of it you can. But not while staring at your phone. It’s too easy to fall down an Instagram/Twitter/TikTok/whatever rabbit hole. You’ll look up and realise you’ve lost a good three hours that you could’ve spent doing… well, pretty much anything else. 

Wine and dine yourself 

New Year’s doesn’t have to be about going out and crawling back home at 4 in the morning with a kebab in hand, no money in your wallet, and a crack on your phone screen. Treat yourself instead. Make a reservation at a fancy restaurant you’ve been dying to try out and just soak up the atmosphere, have an expensive glass of wine, and enjoy yourself. Again, you get to do whatever you want. No worrying about whether anyone else will get a dessert, if you want that dessert, get it! Hell, get two if you want. You do you. 

But you also don’t have to take “wine and dine” so literally. You can do anything that you consider a treat. If cocooning yourself in your duvet on the sofa while you scoop handfuls of Haribo and Pringles in your mouth while watching your favourite movies sounds like a treat, go for it!

Think about the new year

And reflect on the one you just had. What made it bad? What made it good? What did you want to do this year that you ended up doing very little of? Once you realise the good and the bad of 2021, you can use what you learned to have an even better 2022.

You can also use this time to come up with some resolutions (#vivalaresolution) and think about your career aspirations. Or if you want to put the adulting off for a bit, why not book a trip or an event? Give yourself something to look forward to in the new year. 

Just because we’ve turned NYE into this mad holiday of going out in the freezing cold and necking Jagerbombs, doesn’t mean you have to. We love to celebrate the start of a new year but at the end of the day, it’s literally just another day. If you aren’t in the mood for celebrating or you can’t go out, remember it’s just another night. And it’s entirely your choice what you do with it. You’re perfectly capable of having a cracking night on your own. And hey, even if you don’t, you have a whole year to make up for it. 

If you’re going to be single on New Year’s Eve, or just alone, check out what events are going down in your area. 

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.