CRUSHES

It's holiday time, and we’re well on our way into “cuffing season”! If you haven't heard, cuffing season, aka, the time of mid-fall/early winter when new relationships start and couples go on cozy hot cocoa dates and walks outside holding hands just in time for the holidays.

The only catch: If you’re single, the holidays can seem especially lonely when it seems like everyone you know is getting a new BF or GF, or doing cute holiday things with their current S.O. A date night to drive around and look at Christmas lights? So adorable... unless it's your bestie on IG, and looking at her pics is making you feel more single than ever.

If you're hanging out in the single crowd this holiday season, here are some of our top tips for having festive fun, even if you're wishing you were in a relationship, too. By making room for things you enjoy and focusing on the non-romantic love and connections in your life, soon you'll be feeling all kinds of festive joy—cuffed or single!

Make time for your fave holiday things

@nataliezacek

Do you bake the best gingerbread for miles around? Or maybe you love writing Christmas cards for your besties or decorating the house with your fam. If there's something special you love to do over winter break, make sure you don't skip it this year. Maybe you can even expand it by inviting friends over and hosting a movie night after your mega cookie-decorating sesh.

Enjoying your fave holiday activities (or trying something new you've never done before!) is a great way to stay present and focus your energy on the things you already have in your life that bring you holiday joy.

Enjoy being in nature

@solarpowered_blonde

Going outside and getting fresh air is one of the best ways to destress and feel better about cuffing season loneliness or anything else that might be making you sad. And the holidays are the perfect time to bundle up and go on a walk outside in the wintry landscape, whether you live in a snowy place or somewhere warmer.

If you have time off from school, maybe you can go to a pretty park or hiking trail close by that you've been meaning to visit. Bring a family member or BFF or two for a fun group outdoor adventure, or go on a walk by yourself. Sometimes being alone in nature is a lovely way to relax and get a new perspective on your single status.

Plan fun activities with your cuffed friends

@itsjennaraine

One of the *worst* parts of cuffing season is watching friends with BFs or GFs seeming to thrive in their relationships, especially if you're seeing them less and less now that they have an S.O. If you're missing your no-longer-single girlies, reach out to plan a besties-only holiday potluck or craft night, with no plus ones allowed (unless you're friends with them and actually want to include them!).

Meanwhile, if your BFF can't stop talking about her new relationship and their adorable ice-skating date over the weekend, you're completely within your rights to ask her to tone down her relationship talk when you're together. People don't always realize that chatting all about a new S.O. can make single friends sad, so don't be afraid to speak up if you're wishing you could talk about a wider range of topics for a little while.

Practice holiday gratitude

@shayrudolph

We may have just had Thanksgiving, but expressing thankfulness for the things in your life that you appreciate is a lovely thing to do all season long (and for the whole year, tbh!). Besides, focusing on the things you love about your life will help you keep single sadness at bay.

Maybe spending time with your sister over the holidays is reminding you how much you love your friendship with her. Or maybe you love the gorgeous winter weather where you live, or the extra time you get over winter break for self-care and relaxation. Reminding yourself of all the best parts of your life will help you think more about what you have instead of what you don't.

Treat yourself!

@mel.amartinez

While you're thinking about what you're grateful for, don't forget to express your gratitude to yourself! Treat the holidays as another chance to shower yourself with self-love, whether that means going on a mini schools-out shopping spree or having a spa night with a face mask and a hot shower.

For a sweet self-care activity, take some time before the holidays to write a list of everything you appreciate about yourself, and hide it somewhere in your room where you can see it. Expressing self-love is a wonderful thing to do no matter what. But if you're feeling cuffing-season lonely, reminding yourself of how amazing you are will help you put your own needs first now *and* if you find yourself in a relationship later.

Do you have any tips for being single and happy during the holidays? Let us know on IG @girlslifemag!

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Slider image: @mel.amartinez
Top image: @mel.amartinez

by Ava Slocum | 12/22/2023