By Rachel MacLynn, CEO/Founder of The Vida Consultancy.
‘Tis the season to be jolly.. well not necessarily for everyone. The Holiday Season stirs up all kinds of emotions for singletons at Christmas and it certainly doesn’t help that everywhere you look, festive romance seems to ooze out of couples, making you feel like you have a huge neon sign over your head saying “Help, I’m single!”. But fear not, there is so much to celebrate and embrace as a singleton – yes even at Christmas time, and if you follow my guide and top tips, am confident you’ll have a merry one indeed.
Embrace your CHOICE to be single
It is always comforting to remind yourself that you don’t actually need a partner, and yes, whilst you may still want one, you’re in a position where you can turn away advances from those who, quite frankly, don’t make the cut. Focus on spending quality time with your family and friends and on the many benefits that single life brings (yes, benefits.. such as the freedom to travel on a whim and no run-ins with the mother-in-law!), until the right partner for you comes along. Remember how amazing you are, and in my book, it is always preferable to be single than being with the wrong type of person for you.
Social media detox
There is no denying that social media has become an important part of many people’s lives and although it can bring many positive and enjoyable benefits, it can also exacerbate loneliness. We know that most people share an idealised version of themselves on social media, cherry-picking only the best images, not to mention filters; we are seeing what they want us to see and not the blazing row they may have had with their partner the day before! We could all do with reminding ourselves more often that the images we see every day on social media, is not real life. So, switch it all off for a couple of weeks and I have no doubt you’ll feel so much better for it!
Christmas is a time of giving
As much as the Holiday Season is about feasting around the dinner table, getting merry with loved ones and laughing at the naff Christmas cracker jokes, the true essence of Christmas is about giving. There are so many people who are truly alone in every sense of the word, then why not consider sneaking out of the house for a few hours and give your time to someone else. Volunteering is rewarding on so many levels, not just for those you are helping, but yourself as well. Don’t underestimate the power of kindness!
Go on some dates!
It’s a fact that the festive season is one of the busiest times of year in the dating world calendar. It is also a time many people are most likely to have off work and therefore are at their least stressful work-wise, hence, people are in a great mood for dating – it’s the perfect time to go out on dates. You have to be in it to win it; you never know who is around the corner, and if they do turn out to be your special someone, what a great story for the grandkids!
Be proactive
Rest assured that as a single person, it is totally normal to get a case of the Christmas blues leading up to the Holiday Season, but the good news is, there is an antidote! When feeling helpless or despondent with a situation, taking action is the best antidote there is and there are proactive steps you can take to help you find your dream partner.
What I suggest as an initial step, is to take stock and think about compatibility and who you are compatible with. I’ve been a professional matchmaker for 15 years and I have found most people are unable to answer this clearly or accurately. Could this be why you are single? How can you find the right person if you don’t really know who you should be looking for?
Here at The Vida Consultancy, we focus heavily on compatibility as we believe this is the secret to longevity in relationships. Seeking the expertise of a dating coach or professional matchmaker can help you define the biggest life goal of your life and hopefully by next Christmas, you’ll be playing footsie with your dream partner in front of the roaring fire.
About the expert
Rachel MacLynn is CEO & Founder of The Vida Consultancy – a bespoke, international, professional matchmaking agency specialising in helping successful individuals across the globe. Visit www.thevidaconsultancy.com for more information.
