Unhappy that another New Year's Eve has rolled
around? Feel like there's nothing to do? You aren't alone. Millions of
people are in that same boat with you. The good news is that half the
adult population being single, so you have plenty of company to help
ring in a fun new year.
Here's a list of suggestions on what to do and things to try. Pull a few friends together and celebrate single style!
1) Go to a Spa with a Girlfriend.
Get pampered - honor yourself with professional skin treatments,
massages, aromatherapy, Reiki, hot rocks, steam showers, detoxifying
seaweed wraps, etc. Start the New Year with a beautiful new you
2A) Have a Fun At-Home Spa Night.
Invite all your single girlfriends of all ages. Pick up a few
do-it-yourself treatments at a bath and body or drug store that you can
help each other with. Play soothing music, give each other manicures
and pedicures, make a few special treats like fancy coffees or smores,
etc.
2B) If you and/or your friends have kids and no babysitter,
set them up in the family room with video or board games, puzzles or
teach them how to play charades to keep them busy while you get
pampered.
3) Have a Chick-Flick Movie Marathon! Make up
the Cosmos and watch Sex and the City DVDs, rent a bunch of feel good
movies or comedy films and make popcorn. Take out the tissues and share
a few tear-jerkers like Beaches - that's a classic crier. Whatever
makes you happy!
Here are some of my all time, classic, feel good, happy ending chick flicks:
Dangerous Beauty - Venice in the 1500's (My all time favorite)
Practical Magic - Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman
Just Like Heaven - Reese Witherspoon falls in love out of her body!
Legally Blonde - Reese Witherspoon again goes to Harvard Law - so funny
Much Ado About Nothing - Light-hearted Shakespeare with Kenneth Brannag, Emma Thompson, etc.
Shakespeare in Love - Gwyneth Paltrow - Shakespeare falls in love
Chocolat - Johnny Depp movie about a gypsy woman who owns a magical chocolate shop
Chances Are - Robert Downey Jr. and Cybil Shepherd in a movie about love and current/past life overlap
4) Throw a Nostalgic Dance Party for the Girls.
Pick your favorite music genre - maybe it's 80's New Wave or 70's Disco
or Motown, or Country Line Dancing. Have plenty of CD's, pick some good
wines, make margaritas or mojitos and dance the night away. You'll not
only have a blast, but you'll burn plenty of calories at the same time.
You can even suggest costumes to get everyone in the mood. It's hard to
dance, hear your favorite music and still feel mopey.
5) Offer a Vision Quest Party.
Feeling upbeat about the new year with goals you hope to achieve?
Here's how to leverage that positive energy. Host a Vision Quest with
your friends. Start by setting the intention of your focus for the
evening - to stage a platform that readies you for a successful New
Year! You can also try taking a guided journey to visualize your
success.
Visit any New Age - Holistic store or even Barnes and
Noble might have a book with exercises to do. Ask friends to bring
magazines and create your Treasure Maps - a collage that represents
your inspired achievements for the coming year. This can be a rewarding
and empowering process for bringing in the New Year, especially if you
are goal-oriented and spiritually-minded.
6) Attend a Yoga Retreat.
There might still be rooms if you call today. Immerse yourself in
healthy practices to start the year with a wellness attitude. This type
of adventure takes all the pressure off and was one of my personal all
time favorite New Year's ever!
7) Host a Game Night Bonanza.
Not a dancer or spa type? No problem, play games instead! From
Pictionary - one of my family's favorites, to Trivial Pursuit,
Monopoly, or Cranium, there are so many fun games that will keep you
busy, thinking and laughing for hours.
8) Play Poker.
Board games are for children you say? Fine, let's play cards! Pick any
of your favorite card games from gin, to cribbage, or even bridge,
there's a game for everyone. Mix things up and play a different game
every hour, or get serious and play till you win it all! Competition
can be a lot of fun.
That's a total of eight novel ways to ring
in the New Year that capitalize on your single status. Pick one and go
to town planning the best New Year's Eve ever. Fun is a state-of-mind
you know, so perk up, face the future with a positive outlook and enjoy
the party!