This post is all about finding the joy in spending thanksgiving alone.
To me, Thanksgiving is truly the beginning of the holiday season. It’s filled with the Macy’s day parade in the background, the smell of traditional thanksgiving food being prepared in the ovens and plans of family members gathering around the holiday table – passing around cranberry sauce and turkey dressing.
If this is your first time being alone on thanksgiving, I can see how it’s easy to get caught up in your feels. But I’m here to tell you… don’t get caught up in the FOMO (fear of missing out) in old traditions. While a family gathering is nice, you can come up with a creative and great way to spend your first thanksgiving alone!
Friend, lots of people are alone on Thanksgiving.
And you being by yourself on Thanksgiving can be a good thing and allows you to create new memories! I’ve worked so many holidays being in the medical field and I know first hand it’s different being alone on a holiday. However, It’s time for you to make new traditions knowing that your family and friends are only a zoom call or quick video call away!
I’m here to give you the best tips on what to do on Thanksgiving without family or friends to keep you company. You’re going to find the best way to make this Thanksgiving your own way!
This post is all about making the most out of spending your thanksgiving alone!
Ways to Spend Your Thanksgiving Alone:
What can you do on Thanksgiving by yourself?
First things first, during this time of year, allll of your friends and family WILL be posting photos and sharing their memories with all of their social media following. So do your emotions and mindset a favor… by staying away from all apps as much as you can during the prime of the holiday.
We’re not dwelling in our emotions. We’re flipping the script and making this the best damn solo Thanksgiving you can have. You have the entire day to do whatever you want to do. How many people can say that regarding their thanksgiving day?! Typically it’s revolving around someone else, if not an entire group of people.
So. How do we do this?
Here’s 8 things to do just by yourself (we’ll touch on human interaction activities shortly):
1. Plan your Black Friday shopping plans
Many major retailers, like Best Buy and Walmart, are releasing early shopping deals ahead of the normal holiday shopping season. If you’re old school and like to go out at midnight on Black Friday, this is your prime opportunity to make a layout of all the stores you want to hit.
Set your budget. Study the Black Friday Ads. Narrow down your door busters and make a list of the things you MUST have before you leave that store.
I worked many Best Buy Black Friday’s in my past and it is c-h-a-o-t-i-c. Decide which lines are worth standing in and which to bypass right off the bat.
And if possible, opt for curb side pickup!
Check out Best Buy’s Black Friday 2022 Deals here!
And Walmart’s Black Friday 2022 Deals here 🙂
Recommended Post: The Best Gifts to Mail This Holiday Season
2. Have a holiday movie marathon
What are some of the best thanksgiving day movies to watch? I’m a rotten tomatoes review kinda gal when it comes to which movies I choose to watch so I’ll include the rotten tomatoes score with the thanksgiving movie recommendations!
Holidate
Literally my favorite movie, probably ever. Emma Roberts was a complete gem in this! I’m pretty sure I binge watched this five times when I first saw it. Lol. It’s such an easy watch and definitely results in stress reduction. Emma plays a single girl, Sloane, who’s family won’t get off her back for being single through all the holidays. She meets a complete stranger and her holidays change.
Kinda breaks my heart because it’s suchhh a good movie but 44% on Rotten Tomatoes
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
I mean how can you not love such a feel good classic like this? Just thinking about the nostalgia of childhood and feeling like a kid again!
Obviously this movie was created in 1973 before Rotten Tomatoes existed but 92% of people approve this holiday classic!
Hollidaysburg
Four friends come home from college for Thanksgiving break just to find out how much their lives have changed since they were last together
It’s a low budget film but has 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, not bad!
Planes Trains and Automobiles
For some people Steve Martin is a hit or miss, but I loved him in all of the Cheaper by the Dozen films. Steve Martin plays a control freak father who is anxiously trying to get home to his wife and kids for Thanksgiving. Among some chaos, he is inevitably paired up with John Candy to venture through his trek to his destination.
92% on Rotten Tomatoes
Krisha
If you haven’t heard of Krisha, it’s a Drama and Comedy following a woman’s Thanksgiving return to her family after 10 years of away. But her past may ruin this reunion.
95% on Rotten Tomatoes
Instant Family
Okay so just a heads up, I cried like a baby in this movie! But it’s such a good happy cry. Instant Family stars Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. They are a couple ready to start a family and end up in the world of foster care.
81% on Rotten Tomatoes
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Please tell me how they never came out with a Thanksgiving Vacation lol. I personally think it would’ve been a hit. Hopefully we’ve all seen this comedy before! But if not, this hilarious movie surrounding a family’s holiday chaos is something we can all probably relate to. Definitely my family’s kind of luck!
68% on Rotten Tomatoes
Home for the Holidays
Who doesn’t love a good romcom?! Holly Hunters character travels home to her dysfunctional family and her childhood home when she encounters her brothers friend, who’s played by Robert Downey Jr.
64% on Rotten Tomatoes
3. Plan to watch Thanksgiving Day football games
If you’re a big football fan, this years thanksgiving football schedule will in itself, keep your day filled. There’s something about watching a stadium full of people on a holiday to make you feel not alone. Ya know?
The NFL Thanksgiving Day football games for this year are:
11:30a CST/ 12:30p ET: Bill at Lions (streaming on Paramount+)
3:30p CST / 4:30p ET: Giants at Cowboys
7:20p CST / 8:20p ET: Patriots at Vikings
4. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade anyways
I mean it’s the 96th freakin’ annual parade! So yes, even though it’s typical to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade as you’re waking up and preparing for you day out and about – or at home cooking – create something different this year!
The parade runs from 8AM-11AM central time and it airs on NBC. Make yourself pumpkin pancakes or a yummy cold brew coffee as you watch the different performing acts. Take in the appreciation of the lineups, balloons, floats and marching bands. I like watching it because you never know what’s going to come strolling down the street next.
5. Watch the Friends thanksgiving episodes
If you’re having a lonely thanksgiving, there’s no better way to feel less alone than with the cast of Friends. If Friends isn’t on the top of your tv show list, you’re missing out. It happens to be my favorite show of all time.
These are the 10 Friends Thanksgiving episodes that you must see. In order by season:
The One Where Underdog Gets Away – Season 1 Episode 9
The One With the List – Season 2 Episode 8
The One with the Football – Season 3 Episode 9 (my favorite!)
The One With Chandler in a Box – Season 4 Episode 8
The One With All the Thanksgivings – Season 5 Episode 8
The One Where Ross Got High – Season 6 Episode 9
The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs – Season 7 Episode 8
The One With the Rumor – Season 8 Episode 9
The One With Rachel’s Other Sister – Season 9 Episode 8
The One With the Late Thanksgiving – Season 10 Episode 8
A day full of the Friend’s gang and laughter is sure to bring you feelings of joy!
6. Have a spa day
Don’t we all just need a GREAT spa day every now and then?! No interruptions, peace and quiet, and a day filled with a relaxing soak in an epsom salt bath.
At home spa days are so easy and calming! Heck have the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade playing in the background as you make yourself a mimosa and run your hot bath!
These are the best essentials you need for your perfect spa day:
Throw in a great bottle of champagne or wine and you’re on your way to a day full of treating yourself to relaxation and full body hydration.
7. Get some fresh air
Turkey Trot
Most cities host an annual Turkey Trot Marathon on Thanksgiving morning. But hold the freaking phone because I just found the coolest Turkey Trot of all Turkey Trots.. yes, I’m highly considering signing up for this!
America’s Turkey Trot was invented to allow families and friends to come together no matter where they are. This Turkey Trot is a virtual, yes virtual, marathon that utilizes an app to run the same race with your friends. You will be able to track, send notifications and finish the same race together.
Some of the proceeds from America’s Turkey Trot goes to World Central Kitchen to help feed families in need.
All participants in the race receive a swag bag consisting of a hooded pullover, finisher medal and race bib and super cute gloves.
How to enter for America’s Turkey Trot?
- Register: By Monday November 14th to receive your swag bag! Registrants of 4 or more people receive 10% off and those of 8 or more receive 15% off and a free Turkey Trot in a Box. Read more info on that here .
- Receive your Swag Bag.
- Download the free Americas Turkey Trot App to track your run, upload your before and after pictures, and your results.
- Participate in the 5k or 10k walk/run on the morning of November 24th, Thanksgiving Day.
YALL! How freakin fun?! Plus all of their attire is super cute and is a zero on the cheesiness scale!
8. Put up the christmas tree
This might be my favorite solo thanksgiving activity! Everyone is sooo happy around christmas time because of all the lights and decor. So why not add to the holiday cheer, put your tree up on thanksgiving and contribute to a month long of a feel good aesthetic?!
Some of my favorite Christmas trees this year:
This next one’s probably my favorite for a boho aesthetic Christmas tree!
What to do on Thanksgiving alone but with human interaction:
9. Soup kitchen or Food bank
By searching “soup kitchen (or food bank) near me” – you can find a soup kitchen or food bank near your home to volunteer at. While we may feel alone on Thanksgiving, there are so many less fortunate than we are. Some of the major names that may run a Thanksgiving day meal service are: The Red Cross, Feeding America and local churches.
Give them a call and see if they are providing one of these services and how you can help. Some places may need help prior to Thanksgiving day while others may need your assistance during that day.
Be prepared to put your own thoughts and feelings aside, and show up prepared to serve and be there for others.
10. Senior Center
Unfortunately, there are so many elderly people in senior centers or senior living communities that DONT have family visit them on holidays. Research your local senior centers and see if they are providing a special Thanksgiving luncheon or community dinner.
You’d be surprised at just how many there are feeling loneliness on thanksgiving day. By simply sitting down to chat with someone who just wants an ear to listen, or to be of service to them throughout the holiday – I guarantee you’ll make their day and you’ll leave feeling pretty satisfied yourself.
11. Pass out home-made food to the homeless
While making a full blown thanksgiving meal and divvying it up into individual meal kits for the homeless, might not be the most logical thing to do, creating and passing out a Thanksgiving care kit is still an amazing way to spend your thanksgiving alone. Instead of getting stuck in your head about what you don’t have this holiday, spend the time around Thanksgiving to make these cute Thanksgiving Blessings bags that Susan from Organized 31, preps with her family each year.
What to eat on Thanksgiving alone:
There’s no lack of great food choices when it comes to Thanksgiving Day! A lot of major restaurants will be open on thanksgiving day. Some of them are even doing Thanksgiving favorite foods! Check with your local location for hours!
12. Local Restaurant
Apple Bees
Bob Evans
Cracker Barrel
Golden Corral
Ihop
Maggianos
Mortons
Ruths Chris
STK Steakhouse
Teds Montana Grill
TGI Fridays
Waffle House
13. Fast food places
Burger King
Dunkin
Hardees
Ihop
Krispy Kreme
McDonalds
Popeyes
Sonic
Starbucks
Steak n Shake
Subway
Wendys
Dominos
Papa Johns
Little Caesars
Pizza Hut
Surely, one of these thanksgiving alone ideas spark some interest into your Thanksgiving day plans without others. Find positives in the alone time and help bring joy to someone else when they’re having a sense of loneliness too! And who knows, you might meet some really cool new people who also spent their holiday serving others! Maybe you’ll have a new thanksgiving day tradition for next year! 😘
This post is all about finding the joy in spending thanksgiving alone.
Have such a great thanksgiving my little turkeys!! 😘
Comment your thoughts!