You don’t need someone to kiss on NYE!

Cuffing season is here, sending people scrambling to find a romantic partner to spend the cold winter months with. And with the new year right around the corner, life – including your love life – can feel full of possibility. You might be hoping to lock down a date just in time for New Year’s Eve, but there are many other fun ways to kick off the new year without sharing a midnight kiss. Here’s how to make the most of being single on NYE.

Reflect on the Year

The New Year’s holiday season symbolizes a fresh start, but that doesn’t mean you should erase the past year from your memory entirely. Reviewing the last 12 months can illuminate the areas in your life that need improvement and goals that are worth revisiting next year.

If you’re single and unattached on NYE, use this time to reflect honestly on your love life. Did you repeat an unhealthy dating habit throughout the last year? Did you keep falling for the same type of person who, inevitably, never seems to work out? Or did you go through a tough breakup at some point in the year?

None of these scenarios are failures to be ashamed of – they’re lessons to learn from. Spend time looking for patterns and finding the opportunities for growth. That way, you can make your dating and social life even better next year.

Spend the Night With Friends and Loved Ones

You may not be locking lips when the clock strikes midnight, but you can still celebrate with your closest friends and loved ones. Sure, some people in your circle might be spending the evening with their other half, but that doesn’t mean you have to be coupled up too to enjoy the night.

Round up the single members of your squad, and invite them all out for a night on the town together – no plus-ones necessary. Hit up a festive NYE party and dance the night away together. Or join an audio room on Jaumo and find a cool group of singles to grab a table at your favorite bar or lounge with.

If a big night out isn’t your ideal way to ring in the new year, kick back at home with your family or a few close friends instead. This can be a great way to cherish the special people you have in your life, rather than focusing on the partner you don’t currently have.

Enjoy a Solo Celebration

There are several reasons why you could end up by yourself on NYE – you may have just moved to a new city, you could be feeling under the weather, or you might just revel in solitude. No matter the motive, it’s totally okay to celebrate the new year alone at home. You can still have fun dancing to your favorite upbeat playlist or treating yourself to a nourishing meal or a glass of your favorite bubbly drink. Alternatively, go to bed early so you can wake up totally refreshed and energized on the first day of the year.

You can also make the most of staying home by connecting with others in a virtual space. Meet new people in a singles chat or voice chat room, swapping stories from the comfort of your own home.

Get Your Resolutions Ready

Starting the new year without a romantic partner? No problem! Life is full of new things to experience, most of which have nothing to do with your relationship status. Take advantage of your singlehood by focusing on who you want to be and what you want to achieve in the coming year.

If you don’t already have New Year’s resolutions set, brainstorm what you hope to accomplish in various areas of your life, such as your career, personal development, and health. And remember, resolutions don’t always have to be serious – imagine how you want to have fun and what adventures you hope to go on next year too.

If your list becomes overwhelmingly long, narrow down your resolutions to your top three picks. For big goals and action items, break them down into small and specific steps that you can start right away.

Being goal-oriented can be an attractive quality, and you might find that a lot of potential partners are captivated by your ambition. But to make your New Year’s resolutions a success, make sure to work on you, for you.

Embrace Your Freedom and Flexibility

If you were hoping to have someone to kiss on NYE, it can feel like a letdown spending the night alone or with (platonic) friends instead. However, a quick perspective shift can help you see the silver lining.

Take a moment to visualize yourself in a relationship just in time for the new year. Your brain might be quick to feed you idealized images of you cozying up with someone cute, without offering the full picture. Having a date on NYE can be fun, of course, but there can be some added pressures too. For example, some couples may struggle to decide how to spend the night (near my family or yours? going out or staying in?), while others may experience FOMO watching other couples get engaged over the holidays.

Savor your single, low-stress New Year’s holiday. Allow yourself to be as spontaneous as you want, say “yes” to whatever invitations excite you, and appreciate the freedom that comes with being single during this time of year. Your night doesn’t have to revolve around anyone else but you – embrace that.

Out With the Old, in With the New

You may be worried about finding someone to kiss on NYE, but you’re not missing out if your countdown to midnight is spent alone or with friends and family instead. Relationships have their own timing, and you might connect with someone special later in the new year. But for now, take this opportunity to learn about yourself, meet new people, and live life on your own terms. And when sparks do fly with someone new, you’ll be as confident and ready as ever.

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