More and more of us spend Christmas alone as we get older. Here’s some tips on how to beat loneliness during the festive season.

Age UK’s recent statistics show that over 1 million older people are spending Christmas day alone this year. More than 1 in 10 people (11%) will eat Christmas dinner alone, and 5% won’t see or speak to anyone the entire day.

It’s hard to be alone for the holidays, but there are ways to beat the loneliness. Here are a few of our suggestions on how to still make the most of the season.

Find local events

There are plenty of local events on at Christmas time to help communities connect and enjoy the holidays together. Local hubs, churches, libraries, pubs and more are often hosting festive events.

You could attend a Christmas dinner hosted at a local community hub, or a carol service at your local church. Or you could pop down to a nearby pub and see what events or live music are happening that day.

There are also charities designed to help communities come together to improve wellbeing and beat loneliness. Ramblers offers wellbeing walking groups, while Reengage have social groups for older folks looking to make new friends in their local area.

Chat online

If you’re able to reach family and friends online, video calls are a great way to stay connected when you’re apart. But for those who can’t, there are plenty of other ways to use our phones and the internet to connect with others.

Charities like The Silver Line (run by Age UK) offer support for people aged 55+ who are experiencing loneliness. You can give them a call, and they’ll happily chat with you, offering support and friendship in difficult times.

Whether you’re feeling down, or just want a quick chat, their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so there’s always someone to talk to.

Make Christmas day special, just for you

Some of us aren’t up for going out on Christmas, or maybe don’t have the means to do so. But that doesn’t mean Christmas can’t still be a special day.

Why not make a delicious Christmas dinner for one (or order your favourite takeaway), or put on your favourite film with a nice glass of wine. Dust off some of the things tucked away for a ‘special occasion’ and use them to make the day a little more special.

Try to reframe the day not as one where you’re stuck by yourself, but as a day dedicated to you. Whether it’s some nice food, a good book or just a cozy pyjama day in bed, make the most of it and do something special for yourself.

Make Christmas special for someone else

Volunteering is a great way to give back to others at Christmas. Local food banks, shelters and more are always looking for volunteers, especially during the cold winter months.

By volunteering, you can chat with fellow volunteers and those you’re helping, all while making a real difference to people’s lives. Consider spending Christmas morning dishing out food at your local soup kitchen, spreading warmth and joy to those who need it most.

Not only will you be helping those around you, but you’ll boost your own mood by seeing the positive impact of your work. It’s a truly rewarding way to spend the holidays.

For more information on finding local volunteering opportunities, click here.

Let yourself feel lonely

Keeping busy can be a great way to distract yourself from feeling lonely, but it can also be good to stop and take time to feel these feelings too.

Loneliness is something a lot of us will experience this Christmas. It’s important that we allow ourselves to feel this loneliness, to take control of it so that we can lessen the power it has over us, and continue with our lives. After all, if you shine the light on darkness, it disappears.

Accept that you feel lonely, take time to understand and process these feelings. And, when you’re ready, choose to carry on.

You can find support and advice on dealing with loneliness here.