Finding Comfort in Solitude During the Holidays
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The Holiday Season’s Mixed Emotions
The holiday season can bring up a whirlwind of emotions—joy and connection for some, but loneliness and isolation for others. And if you’re feeling lonely right now, know that you’re not alone in that feeling. It’s easy to feel out of place when it seems like everyone around you is celebrating togetherness. Here at Tat's Corner, we recognize that this season doesn’t look the same for everyone, and that’s okay.
Solitude can be an opportunity to turn inward and reconnect with yourself, building resilience and strength along the way. Let’s explore ways to make this time of solitude one of comfort, peace, and growth. After all, we’re the Corner Crew—we stick together, even if we’re physically apart.
Embracing Solitude as Self-Care
Solitude can be misunderstood as something to avoid, but it can also be seen as a sacred, nourishing space for self-care and self-discovery. By reframing solitude, you give yourself permission to rest, heal, and rediscover your inner light. Here’s how:
- Solitude allows you to sit with your feelings and accept them without judgment. This season, consider solitude as a practice of self-love—a way to give yourself the same care and understanding you’d offer a friend.
- Being alone can create the space you need to listen to your own needs and desires without outside noise. Treat solitude as a pause button to restore your energy and reconnect with who you are and what you want.
Solitude can be a powerful, gentle way to care for yourself. Let this be a time to nurture yourself, honoring the person you’re becoming.
Practical Ways to Find Comfort in Solitude
To transform solitude into a source of comfort, create an environment that feels safe, soothing, and full of possibilities for joy.
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Create a Cozy Space: Set up a personal sanctuary, whether it’s a corner of your room or a cozy nook where you can relax. Surround yourself with things you love—soft blankets, candles, warm lighting, and maybe even a favorite book or movie. Add textures, colors, and scents that bring you comfort; a cozy environment can feel like a warm hug.
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Mindful Practices: Simple mindful practices can make a big difference. Try a 5-minute meditation in the morning or evening, write a gratitude list each day, or practice gentle breathing exercises. These small rituals can bring you back to the present moment, offering a sense of peace that you can carry throughout the day. (Let me know if you want to dive deeper into these in a future blog post!)
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Engage in Activities You Love: Find joy in the things you love. Read that book you’ve been meaning to get to, paint, write, bake something tasty, or dive into a game you enjoy (shoutout to the gamers in the Corner Crew!). Rediscovering the small things that make you happy helps remind you of your own company’s value and beauty.
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Try a ‘Date with Yourself’: Why not take yourself on a little date? Plan a special evening just for you—make a nice meal, pick a movie you’ve been wanting to watch, or enjoy a bubble bath. You could even take yourself on a walk through a scenic area, listen to a podcast, or take photos of things that make you smile. Treat this time as a celebration of you. You are worthy of your own love, you matter too.
Reframing Solitude as a Time for Reflection and Growth
Solitude offers an amazing chance to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year to come. Here are some ways to use this time for personal growth and deeper connection with yourself:
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Reflect on Your Journey: Take time to journal about your experiences this past year—what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, and what you’re proud of. Reflection can help you release any heavy feelings and look at your journey with compassion and understanding. Remember there are no rules with journaling, it's all for you - put that pen to paper and let it flow.
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Reconnect with Your Goals: Use solitude to connect with what you truly want for the future. Whether it’s big goals, small dreams, or little changes you’d like to make, use this time to tune into what truly matters to you. Remember that it is okay for your dreams to be unique and for your life path to be different than the "normal" or some timeline that was put into your head. You have the power to create your reality, to create a life you don't want to escape from, to create a life you love waking up to live.
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Nurture Your Passions: Being alone is the perfect time to reconnect with passions that make you feel alive. Whether it’s something creative, a hobby you haven’t visited in a while, or simply a desire to learn something new, now is a great time to dive into what fills you up. Fill up your cup, fill up your soul.
Solitude can be a beautiful space for healing and rediscovery. Rather than feeling like something is missing, this time can be a way to feel more whole and centered within yourself.
Reaching Out for Support When Needed
Sometimes, solitude can feel heavy—and that’s perfectly normal. Even as we find beauty in being alone, there’s no shame in reaching out when loneliness starts to feel too overwhelming. Here are a few ways to stay connected with the Corner Crew and others in your life:
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Connect with Loved Ones: You don’t have to see people in person to feel their presence. Video calls, phone calls, or even a quick text exchange with friends or family can remind you of the love and support you have.
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Join the Corner Crew Community: Remember that Tat’s Corner and the Corner Crew are always here. A little online interaction can go a long way in lifting your spirits, more than you could imagine. You are not alone and you are welcome here, exactly as you are. Keep an eye out to join the Discord community launching in December - share your experiences, or maybe even find your a new squad and run a few games if that’s your thing!
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Talk to Someone You Trust: If feelings of loneliness become too much, consider talking to a friend, a therapist, or someone you trust. There’s so much strength in knowing when to reach out and allow others to support you. For hotline information, please click here and look for Quick Resources at the bottom of the page.
A Season for Self-Compassion and Comfort
This holiday season, let solitude be a space of self-compassion and comfort. This may be a time for peace, growth, and connection with yourself. And know that, although you may feel alone, you’re held in spirit by Tat’s Corner and the Corner Crew.
Take each day one step at a time. Honor yourself, nurture your spirit, and remember that the world is better with you here in it. Together, we heal and grow—even when we’re apart. So stay here, stay weird, and keep finding that comfort in solitude. We’re with you every step of the way - through every sunrise and every sunset, no matter how high the high or low the low.