10 Christmas Activities for Introverts: How to Recharge Your Social Battery During the Holidays

The holidays are full of magic, warmth, and love. They are one of my favorite times of the year. However, as an introvert, the Christmas season is exhausting. With all the obligatory events, smiling, and social interactions, it can quickly become overwhelming. This is why I am a huge advocate for everyone doing the self-care they need during this time of year. But if you still want to enjoy the season while you practice self-care, there are Christmas activities for introverts that help you recharge and relax.

What everyone needs in order to recharge is very personal. Whether it be spending time with your pets or enjoying your favorite hobby, what you need is entirely personal to you. But during the season, there are certain traditions and events that make practicing self-care difficult.

This makes being an introvert during the holidays very difficult. I can talk from personal experience when I say the holiday season, although one of my favorites, is also incredibly draining. Although I love doing all the holiday activities, if I don’t recharge, I will slowly lose myself and my mental health. I become angry and unhappy, both of which are two moods I don’t like to have during Christmas.

So, practicing self-care as an introvert during the holidays while still celebrating the season is incredibly important for me. And I wanted to share some Christmas activities for introverts, so others can find some peace this Christmas as well.

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Why are the Holidays so Difficult for Introverts?

For everyone, the holidays are busy and tiring. With all the holiday gatherings, present lists, and cooking, it is the season for activity. However, the holidays can be especially hard on introverts.

Introverts get their energy from being alone. So when you put them in a position of a lot of social interaction, it becomes more difficult for them to recharge their battery. During the holiday season, there is a lot of obligatory socializing:

• Holiday parties
• Family gatherings
• Christmas shopping/busier stores than normal
• Gift exchanges
• Cheery passerbyers giving holiday greetings

With all these moments of forced interaction one after another, there is little to no time for self-care.

This is especially true for introverts who love the holiday season. They want to participate in all the classic Christmas traditions, however, most of them require socializing. Because they don’t want to miss out, they end up doing too much too fast.

Too much activity for introverts with no time to unwind will lead to exhaustion, overwhelm, and it can be damaging to their mental health.

Time alone for introverts is vital in avoiding this.

Do Extroverts and Introverts Need Different Forms of Self-Care?

Everyone needs self-care. I am a massive advocate of this, and I think everyone needs to figure out what their mind and body need to restore themselves.

This will be different for everyone, as I mentioned. Finding the perfect self-care activities is personal to you and what you enjoy. It is also dependent on whether you are an introvert or an extrovert.

Extroverts will find self-care and relaxation in spending time with loved ones and attending social gatherings. Because extroverts get their energy from spending time with others, a nice get-together with friends can be perfect for recharging from the exhaustion of the holiday season.

Introverts are a little different. They need time spent alone in order to recharge. But not only that, but the time alone needs to be relaxing. If they spend their alone time worrying about others or stressing about the holidays, they will never feel restored. Instead, Introverts need to spend the time doing something they love and filling their creative wells. Only when they settle into a sense of ease can introverts truly begin to fill their social battery.

And don’t forget that some people are ambiverts. They get energy from being around others sometimes. But they also get energy from alone time.

It takes a little look within yourself to figure out what you need to recharge your social battery.

Why is it Important To Know What you Need to Recharge?

It is clear that everyone needs something different to recharge, and we can spend all our lives trying to find these activities that make us feel the most relaxed. But why is this important? Why should you spend time thinking about this?

Because figuring out how to care for yourself and your well-being is vital to protecting your mental health.

Everyone finds the holidays exhausting. And in today’s society, there is this pride and showmanship that people have been taught to feel when it comes to our work ethic. “Look at me, I worked 60 hours this week and still managed to prepare holiday cookies for the entire office.”

In the capitalistic society, we are living in, being overworked is put on a pedestal while having time for relaxation is seen as lazy, unproductive, and unimportant. This has been detrimental to this country’s collective mental health. The only way to fight this is to defy it.

So, I implore you to find a way to relax that is perfect for you. Something that will truly calm you to the point of restoring your battery, whatever way you need. It will benefit you in the end.

How to Say No To Holiday Party Invites

Step one to having alone time is finding the time to do it. That is difficult during the holidays with all the gatherings and events.

No one should ever feel guilty for taking the time they need to recharge and relax. I will stand by that for the rest of my days. However, it happens. When something feels obligatory, it is easy to feel guilty for saying no. Especially when society has programmed us to prioritize others well being over our own. They are both important!

So, my #1 favorite excuse?

• “No, I can’t come. But thank you for inviting me.”

It is simple, to the point, and all the information anyone needs. Now, if you are looking for something a little longer. If you feel like you need an excuse for not attending your office Christmas party or your friend’s get-together, here are some other options.

• “Sorry, I have already made other plans, so I am unavailable to attend.”
• “I really wish I could go, but I need to get some Christmas shopping done before all the stores are sold out of everything.”
• “I would love to, but I have work I need to finish before next week and I am a little behind.”
• “Unfortunately, I can’t come. I already have plans with another friend.”

Don’t go into too much detail when it comes to saying no. You don’t owe anyone a deep explanation of what you will be doing every moment of your life. There is time that is completely yours, and others don’t need to know if you are planning a relaxing night in or if you are going to be working through the weekend. It is no one’s business but your own.

What are Some Christmas Activities for Introverts?

Okay, now to the info you have been waiting for. Here is a list of 10 of my favorite Christmas activities for introverts. These can be done completely alone!

1. Solo Christmas Movie Marathon

Of course, I have to include my absolute favorite introvert-friendly holiday activity as #1 on this list. There is nothing like cuddling in bed with some movie snacks and a cup of hot cocoa to enjoy your favorite classic holiday movie. Or putting on the Hallmark Channel and losing yourself in some Hallmark Christmas movies.

If you are looking for some modern holiday movie recommendations, check out my list of Christmas Netflix Originals.

2. Take a Solo Drive to Look at Christmas Lights

One of my favorite holiday traditions is looking at Christmas lights. It is so relaxing, driving around my town finding homes decked out in lights, garland, and inflatable Santas. Although this is a tradition for my entire family, it is also something I enjoy doing solo.

A lot of towns hose holiday home decoration contests and will post a list of the winners. Go around and find all the neighborhoods to see the best-decorated homes in your town!

3. Make a Gingerbread House

Creativity and yummy treats are two of my favorite things. Mix them together and you get a gingerbread house! Making these can be so fun and also very challenging! It is hard to get all the walls to stay up and the roof to stay on! But once the house is built, you get the joy of decorating with frosting and various candies.

If you don’t feel like building the house yourself, you can find pre-built ones available at grocery stores. Even better, many retailers sell a ton of gingerbread building kits that aren’t houses now. You can make gingerbread trains, gingerbread cities, and more. I have even seen a gingerbread Starbucks shop!

4. Cook a Holiday Dinner for One

Cozy comfort food is the only thing I crave during the winter season. So when the holidays come around, I love spending some time with myself, cooking up some of my favorite warm meals. Those meals make you feel so warm and cozy!

For a list of easy dinner ideas perfect for the colder months, check out this post! I have a ton of easy and comforting meals you can make. But you might have some leftovers!

5. Make Some Holiday DIYs

One self-care activity that always makes me happy and relaxed is crafting. I love sitting down to crochet a sweater or make some popcorn garland. The holidays are a great time for creating some DIY projects. Check out this article full of 85 holiday DIY project ideas!

Use Pinterest to get some inspiration and get to work! You can create some homemade Christmas decorations or craft some gifts for everyone on your list. Christmas activities for introverts can be relaxing and productive!

6. Take a Winter Stroll Through a Park with a Camera

Winter makes the world so beautiful, especially if you live by snow. So stretch your creative muscles and use those photography skills.

Getting out of the house is so refreshing. And I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the winter season than to walk around in it. Winter is a beautiful time of year, and I love whipping out my phone camera, or real camera if I am feeling fancy, and snapping some pictures of holiday decorations or snowy trees. Try to capture some snowflakes falling in a scarf!

7. Bake Some Christmas Cookies

One of the classic Christmas activities is baking and decorating Christmas cookies for Santa. My family did it every year on Christmas Eve.

Now that I am older, I enjoy spending some time during the month of December making my own plate of cookies for Santa. Using cookie cutters in the shape of snowmen and reindeer, then covering them in different colors of frosting to make the perfect holiday snack.

You can share them if you would like, but I like to keep them all for myself.

8. Make a Snowman

Although this isn’t available for me unless I feel like driving a couple of hours until I reach snow, making a snowman is a great way to enjoy the Christmas spirit solo.

Making snowpeople isn’t only for kids. It is time to connect with your inner child and play in the snow! You might be surprised at how much fun you can have.

9. Read a Holiday Book by the Christmas Tree

I’m a reader, so every season is reading season. But reading by the Christmas tree definitely feels different. More cozy and festive.

This year, I have made it one of my goals to read holiday and winter-themed books through the month of December. I have a list full of Christmas romances, fantasy books set in winter, and classic holiday stories. I want to read anything that will put me in the spirit. These are the perfect books to read by the Christmas tree.

But of course, I wouldn’t object to reading a horror book by the Christmas tree. That definitely sounds like something I would do.

10. Complete a Holiday Jigsaw Puzzle

When I think of alone time, I think of doing something quiet and relaxing. For me, that is the best use of my personal time. One of the quiet and relaxing activities I love to do is completing a jigsaw puzzle.

To make this activity a little more Christmassy, I buy myself a holiday jigsaw puzzle every year. There are so many fun holiday designs out there that bring festivity into my cozy solo puzzle evenings.

Putting on some Christmas music or a holiday audiobook and working on a puzzle is a great way to shut off my thoughts for a little while.

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As you can see, a lot of your classic Christmas activities can be done solo, which is perfect for introverts. There are enough Christmas activities for introverts on this list to last all season! You will have so many excuses to say “no” to invites for social events you are way too exhausted to attend.

Here are examples of how to say no to social invites during the holidays:

• “Sorry, I have some things I need to get done at home.” (a.k.a. you need to get some Christmas cookies baked)
• “I wish I could come to your holiday party but I don’t have a car available to drive there.” (yeah, because your car is too busy driving you around to look at Christmas lights)
• “Sorry, I am a little behind on work.” (work on the DIY project you are completing)

A little white lie here and there never hurt anyone, especially when it comes to protecting your mental health!

I hope this list of 10 Christmas activities for introverts gives you the push you need to take time for yourself this holiday season. Trust me, you will be thanking yourself when you don’t feel completely exhausted every day.