December 31st is usually a time of celebration and gathering, but for many people, societal expectations can increase feelings of emptiness. Specialists consulted by Infobae in detail nine important recommendations for dealing with loneliness in the new yearwith a focus on emotional well-being and authenticity.
As he began to explain Infobae Doctor of Psychology and teacher Flavio Calvo (MN 66,869), the end-of-year holidays, such as Christmas or New Year, are full of social mandates that impose the idea of compulsory accompanied happiness. “During these times there is very strong social pressure to be surrounded and happy.. When someone is alone, this pressure becomes more evident,” said the specialist, who also pointed this out Balance, sadness, and unfulfilled goals tend to be reactivated, increasing emotional discomfort.
The graduate of the psychology department of the Department of Psychotherapy of INECO Delfina Ailán (MN 75.326) in turn analyzed that the New Year is usually presented as a collective event, but in practice personal experiences of loneliness can be thwarted.
“People don’t always experience what is socially expected.. “Loneliness often arises not from the fact that we are truly isolated, but from the distance between the bonds we want and the ones we think we have,” he said when asked by this medium.
For Calvo, feeling alone on New Year’s Eve isn’t a personal flaw. “Recognize what you consider healthy and necessary,” emphasized the psychologist who highlighted this Social pressure can cause sadness or anxiety that is difficult to express.
For her part, the psychology graduate from the Department of Psychotherapy of INECO Trinidad Zappaterra (MN 84,685) differentiated isolation, understood as objective lack of contact, from loneliness, which is an inner experience. “A person can be surrounded and feel alone because they do not perceive real connections.. “This subjective interpretation can trigger emotions such as fear or sadness and ultimately increase real isolation,” he explained. This cycle becomes more intense when external expectations rise, as is the case at year-end.
There are a number of tips that specialists have given to ensure that the end of the year becomes a moment of personal joy beyond the company.
- Recognize and accept emotions. Calvo emphasized the importance of recognizing and validating your own emotions. “Feeling alone is not a personal failure. Recognizing it is the first step to addressing it without guilt,” he said.
- Look for real connections, even if they are minimal. According to Ailán, it’s not about big parties, but about the quality of relationships. “A sincere message or call is worth more than a meeting without an emotional connection,” emphasized the psychologist.
- Actively choose how you want to spend the night. Calvo recommended planning the evening based on personal preferences. “A special dinner, writing, watching a movie or developing your own ritual can add meaning to the date,” he said.
- Communicate your own needs. Zappaterra suggested expressing what you feel and need. “Asking for company or simply sharing one’s condition helps reduce emotional isolation, even if the person remains physically alone,” he explained.
- Set boundaries and question external expectations. Ailán pointed out that it is important to set boundaries for meetings or social engagements. “Not participating for fear of being excluded should not be experienced as a failure, but as a form of self-care,” he told Infobae.
- Reframe the interpretation of loneliness. For Calvo, shifting focus from “being alone” to “being with myself” reframes time in solitude as a space of self-knowledge.
- Use the opportunity for self-assessment. Zappaterra suggested turning the date into an opportunity for reflection. “Through writing, recording emotions, or creating personal rituals, you can make sense of the experience without the pressure of closing loops,” he explained.
- Connect with your own values. Ailán recommended finding what gives meaning to one’s personal life. “Questioning what is important and how you want to interact with others helps guide action toward wellness,” he said.
- Dedramatize the date. Both Calvo and the INECO specialists agreed to reduce the drama to December 31st. “It’s just another day on the calendar; the real celebration is the one that is built daily,” reflected Zappaterra.
The strategies provided by the experts make this possible Manage the loneliness of the New Year through self-care, authenticity, and validation of your own feelingswithout giving in to external pressure or social guidelines to celebrate.
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