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IS ANYONE else a little sad this time of year? You’re not alone.

A lot of people will spend Christmas day in an untraditional way and you may consider yourself one of them. Oh, Christmas. The song made famous by Andy Williams says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. Or is it?

For many of us it’s also an emotionally charged time, one that brings a great deal of stress, anxiety and sorrow to both our hearts and our homes.

1. Indulge a little!

One year when I was alone and had very little money I treated myself to my favourite glossy magazine and took it to the beach. I was lucky enough to be living in Sydney during the beautiful summer season. I was so thankful and happy to be in Australia!

2. Allow yourself to experience some longing.

We are human and Christmas naturally promotes a heightened emotional state. Acknowledge this, honour it, and understand that this day you may feel a little low. When you embrace it, it helps release it. A distraction like a good movie (a comedy!) or an engrossing book helps take our minds off being lonely or among family tension.

3. Celebrate on a different date.

Obviously airlines take advantage of this busy travel time and charge premium end of year prices. We can’t all afford to be where we want on Christmas day. So if you want a get-together with loved ones, commit to come together on another date. Why not celebrate on Jan 25th for example? You can get discounted presents this way too! I typically celebrate earlier in the month — I started this article in the UK as I visit my mum mid-December before the mad flight rush.

4. Invite another lonely person over.

You can offer to cook, or share the load and do it together. A girl I know in the USA just spent Thanksgiving with another yoga enthusiast that she met the week before in class (both are pretty new to Manhattan). They made vegetable pizza and drank champagne and a new friendship was formed. Don’t underestimate the power of a little initiative!

5. Be the light for someone else.

Do something nice for someone you know (or even someone you don’t). Most neighbourhoods have a local church and you can ask how you can volunteer your time somehow. Or you can give someone a call that you know is lonely. Making it less about you always works — in more ways than one. Giving to another person is the quickest and most lasting shortcut to happiness. Win-win.

6. Don’t compare.

Across the world millions of people have different circumstances — some are sick, some are feuding with others, some people don’t have enough (or any) food. Let this give you some perspective and don’t judge your circumstances by Hollywood’s holiday films or your seemingly perfect neighbour’s family. Just let it be whatever it is for you this year. You also don’t need to justify your day to anyone. “My Christmas was nice and quiet” is typically my answer when asked about it. Enough said.

7. Don’t over think it.

There is no right or wrong way to spend Christmas. After all, its just 24 hours. It will be over tomorrow and all the focus will be on the Boxing Day sales. In a week you can start to concern yourself with all the “new year, new you” pressure to look forward to (!!)

It’s the spirit that counts — the love and the gratitude that we feel towards the people in our life — no matter where they are. Neither of these things revolves around a date. The day itself is just a reminder to enjoy them. Christmas is not the turkey, the guests, the tree. Christmas is internal. We can carry it anywhere we go and it can be celebrated every day of the year.