15 Things To Do Alone On New Year’s Eve

If you’re finding yourself alone on New Year’s Eve this year, I got you covered. After spending years working at a high-end cocktail lounge serving up bottle service and shots to the partygoers, and trying my hand at spending money on expensive ticketed New Year’s Eve events, and also choosing solo evenings at home, let me tell you something…

Nothing is better than spending New Year’s Eve alone. Whether it’s by choice, or how the cookie crumbled this year, don’t you dare look at this as a sad night all by yourself.

And sure, while I think being confident and comfortable in being alone is a muscle you need to flex and train over time. Maybe New Year’s Eve is the best time to give it a whirl and have a little practice. Learning how to be alone is truly something that takes a little time.

So whether you are like me who enjoys a night in and has absolutely no FOMO when you see people out and about on NYE. Or you’re still learning to be comfortable in your own skin solo, let today’s list of fun solo things to do on New Year’s Eve inspire you.

15 Solo Things To Do On New Year’s Eve

While this is a list of fun solo things to do alone on New Year’s Eve, these could also be fun activities to do with friends on New Year’s. Or with a significant other. Which is exactly the mind frame shift you need. Just because you’re alone on New Year’s Eve, doesn’t mean you still can’t do the fun things you’d do if you had someone to do them with.

Around here, we do not wait around for someone to be in our lives to do the things we want to do. Want to see a new city? Do it on New Year’s Eve, it’ll be the most unforgettable NYE you’ll ever have. Want to cook that 6 hour prime rib? Do it. You’ll have amazing left overs for days.

Here are some fun solo things to do on New Year’s Eve that will make your night memorable and fun!

Cook A Fabulous Meal

Have you been wanting to try a complicated dish or finally crack open that new cookbook you got for Christmas? Try cooking a fabulous meal at home when you’re alone on NYE. You can spend the day cooking, prepping, and listening to music. Then light some candles, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy your fabulous meal.

There’s always a level of satisfaction and confidence that comes with cooking an elaborate meal and this is exactly the mood booster you’ll want. So if you have no plans for New Year’s Eve, head to the store to get all the things for a fabulous home cooked meal!

Go On A Solo Trip

While this one requires a bit more planning and will be more expensive than the other options, going on a solo trip when you’re going to be alone on New Year’s Eve could really be a fun experience. Whether you choose a warm beach getaway where you lay in the sun all day, have a fabulous meal sitting at the hotel bar, and head to bed at a decent hour.

Or visit a bustling city and take it all in solo (which personally is a favorite way to experience a city). You can get all glammed up for a solo dinner at a bar, ring in the new year with strangers and head back to your fabulous hotel.

Finally Start That Book You’ve Been Wanting To Read

Nothing is more cozy than curling up on your couch with your favorite blanket and a good book. Light some candles, play a little chill music and enjoy your newest read.

Create A New Tradition

For someone like me who has been perpetually single for quite a while, I think it can be fun to create a new tradition. Whether it’s spending the day going on a hike with friends, and then enjoying a meal at home you cook for yourself, whatever it is, make it a tradition you do every year so you can look forward to it.

And if someone does come into your life, they can easily fit right into YOUR tradition. Plus, you can make new ones together too.

Watch A New Movie

Movie night with popcorn and candy on the couch is so satisfying. Rent a good movie you’ve been wanting to see and make it an evening of movies, cozy couch time and buttery popcorn. This is also the perfect evening to have a movie marathon! Watch all your favorites, or all new releases!

Prep A Fabulous Brunch For New Year’s Day

I personally love starting the new year on the right foot of a good night sleep and feeling refreshed. Start the year off with a fabulous brunch for yourself (or invite a friend over for New Year’s Day).

Relax And Treat It Like Any Other Evening At Home

Yup, just relax. I think we tend to overthink this holiday way too much. It’s one day, it’s overpriced, and everyone is a mess.

So if you’re looking for something to do at home for New Year’s Eve, look no further than just treating it like any other silly little night. Just relax and have a night YOU want to do. If that means going to bed early, or watching your favorite reruns and having your favorite meal, do it.

Take A Bath

The ultimate activity to do alone? A fabulous bath. Draw an amazing warm bath with all the bubbles. Turn down the lights and light all the candles, read a book and enjoy yourself. This is a great way to relax and wind the year down.

Pop Open That Fancy Wine Or Champagne

I think we all have that fancy bottle of wine or champagne in our home that we’re waiting for a special occasion. And while I believe in enjoying that any day of the week, maybe New Year’s Eve alone is the way to do it!

Reframe Negative Thoughts

Let this be a reminder that if you are spending New Year’s Eve alone and you’re feeling sorry for yourself, don’t. There are many amazing things you can do alone to enjoy your night and spend time doing whatever it is that YOU love to do.

I think we can get caught up in what we should be doing. But everything is what you make of it. You can go out to a fancy dinner at an expensive restaurant and have a horrible time. You can also sit at home and cry about being alone. It’s all how you frame it.

Why not spend the night doing exactly what YOU want? Or why not spend an evening reading the book you’ve been putting off and can’t wait to dive into? Why not choose to avoid drama and spending money at a fancy place and opt for being solo?

Feeling sorry for yourself by choosing to be alone on a holiday that has a reputation to be overrated in my opinion, is wasted energy. Why are we so obsessed with being part of a holiday that is known for people overindulging and making fools of themselves? Or overspending on mediocre meals at restaurants with poor service because it’s the busiest night of the year?

Make A Vision Board

This is such a fun activity to do solo on NYE. Just gather together some old magazines, get a big piece of poster board, and get to work!

Create a vision board of how you want your next year to feel and look like. Put on some music, or watch a movie while you sip on champagne and make your vision board to inspire your year!

Do A Puzzle

This is one of my favorite activities to do on New Year’s Eve alone. It’s the perfect solo activity and one that can take you all night to do as you let Anderson and Andy on CNN in the background do their thing, and eat dinner in-between puzzle breaks. It’s relaxing and also satisfying to do puzzles and it’s truly the best solo activity if you ask me!

Have A Craft Night

Create a fun little craft night and get all your supplies ready to go for the night ahead of time. You can do fun paint by numbers (this poppy one is so cute), kickstart your embroidery or needle point hobby. Make a nice meal, or do your favorite takeout to round out the night. It’s also a nice way to quiet your mind, you can easily get lost in a craft with your focus and creativity.

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I don’t know about you, but staying in to do what I want to do will always be the superior choice on overrated, overhyped, expensive holidays. And I have yet to ever regret making that choice year over year. I hope this list of fun things to do alone on New Year’s Eve can help you feel confident in spending the evening exactly how you want to spend it.