19 Rewarding Things To Do On NYE That DON’T Involve Going Out
New Year’s Eve is one of the most hyped-up days of the year and going out to watch the fireworks at midnight with your friends tends to become the go-to activity. But honestly, this practice can sometimes end up being pretty stressful.
I mean, just thinking about the traffic jams and crowds of people you’ll have to endure. Doesn’t it make staying in and enjoying the comfort of your home sound super appealing instead?
And the truth is, there are all sorts of other things you can do to usher in the New Year besides going out.
Think about it: NYE is one of the only weeknights a year when you don’t have to worry about work the next day. Do something you love!
Can’t think of anything? No worries, we’re here to help. Here’s a list of 19 things you can do right at home to celebrate the end of a decade!
1. Do something active
Go for a run. Practice some yoga. Heck, do a squat, a lunge, and a push-up. Aren’t you already feeling a little bit more superior?
2. Make a list of all your personal wins and best moments from the year
New Year’s Resolutions are so outdated. Instead, spend NYE in productive reflection and write out everything you’re proud of from the past year.
Think about what you’ve been grateful for, what you accomplished, and what you put a tonne of effort into. Begin the new year with a more positive vibe!
3. Make a list of everything you want to stop lying about in the New Year
All those times you lied about being too busy to hang out when you were actually just too tired, those “OTW”s when you were actually still at home, and the “I’m fineâ€s when you’re really not.
Same energy as the point above. Be honest to yourself, and the people around you. You’ll find that it’s actually more rewarding when you stop pretending to be something you’re not.
4. Call your parents
Honestly, when was the last time you actually spoke to them, asked them how they were doing and told them that you loved them? End and start the year with some love!
5. Have a DIY spa evening
Speaking of love. Show yourself some love by treating yourself right, mind, body, and soul.
Run a nice warm bubble bath, whip up one of those home-made DIY masks, slice some cucumbers for your eyes, put on a hair mask, then just sit back and relax as the clock strikes 12.
6. Make that Pinterest recipe you’ve had saved all year
Whether it’s something tricky like a soufflé, or really simple like a batch of brownies you’ve wanted to try out, the combination of plenty of time and probably an empty house make it an ideal evening to get those measuring cups out!
7. Learn something new
New Year, new knowledge. Finally learn how to pick a lock, change your engine oil or how to do a smokey eye. The internet is an endless source of information right at your fingertips!
8. Get creative
Feeling inspired? Draw, paint, knit, write a song or just break out the colouring books while you sip on wine if that’s more your thing.
Also, we never said these things need to be done alone. Invite some friends over and do these things together!
9. Have a romantic, candlelit dinner
Call up bae, invite them over to make dinner together instead of going out. Light some candles to make it cosier, talk, laugh, and cuddle the night away.
BTW, it’s perfectly acceptable to do this on your own or with a friend instead!
10. Watch some movies
Get some food delivered to your doorstep and settle in for a low-key movie night with some friends, your bae, family members, cats, dogs…or even alone!
Never watched Star Wars? Or Harry Potter? Or Lord of The Rings? Now is the best time to have a movie marathon. Feel like cranking up the NYE vibe instead? Watch NYE themed movies!
11. Read a book
If you feel like you never have time to read, you can end and start the year with a great book!
Not sure what to read? Try finishing one of the must-read books from 2019, or get a jump start on a book that will become a movie in 2020.
12. Go to sleep early, because you can.
Rest easily in the knowledge that while everyone else is paying surge charge fees for an e-hailing ride and starting their new year with a massive hangover, you’re happily in bed, catching up on the sleep you’ve been missing over the holidays (who are we kidding—the whole year).
13. Clean your bathroom/house/do some laundry
This might not sound like the most fun, but if you want to start the new year with a fresh state of mind, why not start with the house?
Also, if you do your laundry at one of those DIY laundry centres, this is the perfect time to have all of the machines to yourself! And having a closet full of clean clothes on the first day of a new year is, really, the greatest gift you can give to yourself.
14. Delete all those unread spam emails from your inbox
Trust us, you’ll not only feel liberated from the tyranny of a stuffed inbox, but you’ll also get to revisit all your emails from the past year and take a quick walk down memory lane.
15. Unsubscribe from those mailing lists that keep spamming your inbox
Wouldn’t it feel great to have a whole year without getting daily emails about 101 things you don’t even remember signing up for?
16. Finally download that update
Tonight, don’t hit “not now†or “remind me tomorrowâ€. Your computer/phone wants to start 2020 with a shiny new operating system — let it!
17. Make and listen to a playlist of all your favourite songs from 2019
Spotify makes a playlist of your most-played songs at the end of each year, but if you want to groove to your own vibe, feel free to make your own! Then, listen to it while you do everything else on this list!
18. Learn the choreography to your favourite dance song
Honestly, though. You know you’re never gonna do this while people are around.
Take advantage of the fact that everyone is out and prepare to become the person with the best dance moves at your next wedding/party/family reunion.
19. Read three weeks worth of TRP articles
Come on…we put a lot of work into our pieces okay. Also, you could be missing out on valuable information.
If you still feel like going out after this exhaustive list, you can check out possible options here!
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