Nothing to do on New Years

LegacyUser

Hey,

I'll get straight to the point... I have no plans for New Years eve, and it's kinda depressing me a bit

I don't have a huge circle of friends, but the friends that I do have are mostly doing other things. I was invited to a wedding, but for various reasons didn't want to go to that.

Anyway, now I'm faced with the prospect of spending New Years with my parents and their friends in the local, which is a grim prospect indeed, particularly because it will be the second year running that I'd be doing that.

I guess I'm just looking for some ideas or suggestions for what to do... Are there things on that you can go to alone, where others are in the same boat? I'm in Dublin BTW.

There are a couple of guys in work that mentioned that they don't usually do anything on NYE, and I reckon they'd be up for some drinks (we go out a lot together). That's one thing I might follow up on.

Thanks for any help

Grandpa Hassan

That happened to me a couple of years ago. The one piece of advice I would give is not to do something you don't want to do. Which is going to the local with your parents.

I just stayed in a couple of years ago. Chilled out. It's only one night which is normally an anticlimax anyway. And watched Jools Hollands Hootenanny with wine, beer and my tons of food. Great music. Was a nice night and really glad I did it rather than spend time sinew here I didn't want to be (though I suspect from your post that you live with your parents so that could be hard)

Then was smug as hell on New Year's Day, when I'd been for a run by 10am. Much better way of starting the first day if a new year than with a steaming hangover.

Just something worth thinking about. You don't have to go out just because it is NYE

Candy_Girl

Just follow up with your friends from work, the night itself is overrated

TwoGallants

I used to make a point of staying in for NYE. Never really understood the pressure on people to have a good time on what is inevitably an anticlimatic event.

Lux23

I never go out for New Years, hate it with a passion.

P_1

Personally I prefer to 'celebrate' it by relaxing on the sofa chilled out rather than being stuck in a loud packed rip off pub.

Littlelulu13

I prefer to stay home than go out. There is so much hype and it ends up being rubbish anyway. My friends are all going out and I said straight up that I wasn't.

So OP based on most of these posts, staying in is the new going out

There is nothing wrong with going to the local with your parents if you slot in with the crowd. I know plenty of people that socialise with their parents, neighbours etc at the weekend. Maybe thats more of a rural thing but if you enjoy the groups company then so what!

SpaceTime

I hate this thing where my other half drags me to this night out in the pub with her old school friends who usually talk about how they're struggling to decide between the new yacht or upgrading the Mercedes while critiquing my career choices!

I end up going home stressed out and annoyed. I actually ended up leaving and getting a taxi home last time.

I think I'll just stay in this year. On my own if necessary.

meoklmrk91

Sometimes I forget the amount of hype surrounding New Years since its not really a holiday I put any thought into and have spent plenty of them alone, really probably be doing the same this year and couldn't care less. I spent one year playing guitar hero for the whole night, that was a good one, lol.

ivytwine

Have to agree, NYE is majorly overrated. However, there is a big outdoor thing on in Dublin that night with gigs and stuff if you could get to that?

I'm working til 10, and by the time I get into town it'll be nearer to 11. I don't think I'll bother, I'll prob won't be able to get in anywhere at that stage.

Stayed in two years ago as I was working early New Year's Day, and put no pressure on myself. Watched Jools and and was happy out.

You're not sad if you stay in one night of the year, and one highly overrated night at that!

Wednesday Addams

Stay in and relax; watch a movie and just enjoy the time to yourself. Why would you want to welcome the new year with a hangover anyway?

Last years' New Years I ended up in bed by 12:30 - it was after a pretty hectic week with a family member's wedding. The previous one I went out with my friend and his brothers and other friends - people I had never met before, and ended up having an absolutely excellent one. A few years ago, I stayed in and watched a movie - Crank, to be exact, with a few cans and had such an enjoyable time. Not entirely sure what I'm doing this year, but chances are my girlfriend and I will do absolutely nothing, or we'll just go do something quiet.

NYE is way overrated and completely anticlimatic. If you really want to do something, find people you wouldn't usually go out with, do something you usually wouldn't do - within reason, of course.

Pippy1976

I've no plans for News Years either. I'll be spending it with my parents and family for, ooh, nigh on 30 years at this stage.

New Years is always built up to be this amazing once-in-a-lifetime not-to-be-missed night out. And really, it's only just a night afterall. I'd choose to spend it with close family and friends any day rather than going out and getting caught up in the drunken stupidity.

Enjoy being with your parents. They won't be around forever and it's with them you should be with on such a night. Enjoy! I know I will and there's nothing whatsoever wrong with that.

nothing_to_do wrote: »

Hey,

I'll get straight to the point... I have no plans for New Years eve, and it's kinda depressing me a bit

I don't have a huge circle of friends, but the friends that I do have are mostly doing other things. I was invited to a wedding, but for various reasons didn't want to go to that.

Anyway, now I'm faced with the prospect of spending New Years with my parents and their friends in the local, which is a grim prospect indeed, particularly because it will be the second year running that I'd be doing that.

I guess I'm just looking for some ideas or suggestions for what to do... Are there things on that you can go to alone, where others are in the same boat? I'm in Dublin BTW.

There are a couple of guys in work that mentioned that they don't usually do anything on NYE, and I reckon they'd be up for some drinks (we go out a lot together). That's one thing I might follow up on.

Thanks for any help

Merkin

I *hate* NYE and when I finally admitted that to myself in about 2004 I don't think I've been out for it since! It's anticlimatic, I personally get a little maudlin and I'd much prefer to be sitting in at home chilling then the enforced frivolity of a NYE party or night out. I love sitting at home with loved ones quaffing bubbly and watching a bit of Jools Holland and those Year Highlights programmes!

I wouldn't get too stressed about it OP. If you don't want to go to the pub then don't. If you want to arrange a few quite drinks with the friends you mentioned then do. But equally, if you fancy sitting in on your own wearing your underpants and farting along to Old Lang Syne then do so!

freshpopcorn

Hi!
I am not a person who gets bothered by New Year's eve because it was never really made a big deal of when I was younger. It was basically wishing people happy new year and watching the programs on TV.
When I got older I went out with friends and it was enjoyable as well because everyone was in a good mood/happy/different feeling to home.
Now I can spend New Years eve with anybody and I find it enjoyable.
OP, you might still be able to make plans with friends so don't rule it out just yet.
If you don't you just have to decide if you want to spend it at home by yourself or with your parents at the pub.
No matter how you spend the night theirs no wrong way to spend it.

gazzer

Stay in, crack open a bottle of wine and a tub of Pringles and watch a few movies. Thats what I have done for 8 out of the last 10 New Years Eves. Very Very overated night.

fits

Some of my best ones were at home with my family. Dad has passed away now but I think I'll spend it this year with my mum and stay in to watch jools holland. If she doesn't have any wild plans herself that is...

Pippy1976

I was about to recommend this: Jools Holland Hootenany - best New Years entertainment ever.

Sit in, open a bottle of your favourite tipple and dance around your living room. So much fun and you don't have to worry about Q's to get in to venues, rowdy drunks, waiting to use the bathroom or taxis home at the end of a crap night!!

fits wrote: »

Some of my best ones were at home with my family. Dad has passed away now but I think I'll spend it this year with my mum and stay in to watch jools holland. If she doesn't have any wild plans herself that is...

GreeBo

To ask the people recommending staying in, how many of you will be staying in alone?

I've done it the last two years and have to say I find it hard not to get lonely.

LegacyUser

GreeBo wrote: »

To ask the people recommending staying in, how many of you will be staying in alone?

I've done it the last two years and have to say I find it hard not to get lonely.

Exactly, I'm the same. It's all well and good when you've mates or a partner to stay in with but I'd be on my lonesome also. My Dad usually goes out and my Mother hits the hay early, a quite depressing experience. Especially for a 23 year old when 99% of people my age are out having a great laugh

Stavro Mueller

I've done it and it didn't bother me in the slightest. It really is the most over-hyped night of the year, followed closely by St Stephen's night. Why do people feel they all have to be out en-masse on that particular evening I'll never know? What is so special about that night? Other than the DJ counting backwards from 10 in an insanely crowded pub with queues a mile long for the bar? Then again I have got to the age where I don't care so much what other people think or do.

GreeBo

I just think people need to be aware that there is a huge difference between choosing to stay in on these nights and not having any other option.

Depending on which reality is yours, your opinion might be different.

Stavro Mueller

What makes staying in on NYE different to every other Saturday night, for example?

In the case of the OP, who is the person whose Personal Issue this is, I suggest he asks the lads from work he mentioned. And if he feels he's getting left behind while his friends are starting to get tied up in other things, use the new year to expand his social circle.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

ivytwine

GreeBo wrote: »

To ask the people recommending staying in, how many of you will be staying in alone?

I've done it the last two years and have to say I find it hard not to get lonely.

You see I've done it because of work generally. In that case why would I get upset by it? It's a fact of life that sometimes you'll miss out cos of work, why would it make it worse than any other night I've had to stay in cos of work the next day over the course of the year?

I'm glad merkin said about getting maudlin. I personally find it a somewhat depressing night, and combining that with alcohol, packed pubs and forced jollity makes it worse.

I don't like Christmas being over, I hate January with a passion, plus my mother suffered a serious bereavement on nye which made it quite a dark day growing up.

Having said all that, if the op wants to go out more power to him.

It's the prescribed nature of the thing that annoys me. You are not a sad case if ylu decide not to go out on ONE day of the year...

GreeBo

Again, if it's a choice then that's fine, when I did go out it was never that great, but when it's due to lack of an alternative, knowing that the vast majority of the planet is out with friends that you don't have? that's a different place to be.

OP if staying in is likely to make you feel down, meet the lads from work for a few, you can always leave.
Never know, you might be rescuing some of them from a lonely night in and could end up with some new good friends.

Wednesday Addams

GreeBo wrote: »

To ask the people recommending staying in, how many of you will be staying in alone?

I've done it the last two years and have to say I find it hard not to get lonely.

I probably will, and to be honest I prefer it that way! I have the option of going out or heading to a friends, but at times I enjoy my own company more. I'll just do my own thing, maybe a bit of writing; watch a movie....

LegacyUser

The problem OP is that you're jumping forward into the future and imagining whats gonna happen, you're not living in the present and anytime you do that you risk feeling lousy. Its just the same thing as thinking about bad past events and then all of a sudden you're in the dumps, walking around feeling crap about something that happened maybe years ago.
And when that happens you project a certain vibe to the world and the people around you. Moods are infectious and if you feel miserable people will pick up on that and act accordingly(probably by avoiding you). People pick their friends based on how that person makes them feel, thats all there is to it. It doesnt matter if youre mother theresa or a drug dealer, if people feel good in your company they dont care what you do or dont do or have or dont have.
The power of positive thinking is a good thing alright, but personally its too transitory and airy fairy. A better way to be is to just live in the present moment. Dont imagine whats gonna happen in 2 weeks time or 2 years time or what happened last year because if you do and you're used to playing negative movies in your head, you'll upset yourself, get yourself down and it'll all become a self fullfilling prophecy. If you choose to not engage with the doom and gloom predictions what happens is you'll feel good and when you feel good you'll be calm and your mind will be clear and when you're in that state of mind and feeling you can take action in a constructive way. I mean you may end up alone this new years eve, but if that happens be mindful of your thoughts again. You then have a year to look at your life and figure out why you're on your own, and then you can do something about it. Maybe it'll involve making big changes, and if thats the case then so be it. You have the power to make your life what you want it to be. One final thing, a lot of people have suggested staying in on new years and drinking in front of the tv. I think thats a solution to nothing. Alcohol is a depressant and using it as a distraction or a crutch isnt healthy, its avoidance and will only make you feel worse. If you do stay in, maybe watch a movie or whatever you wanna watch, but dont start drinking bottles of wine and gorging on chocolate because like I said thats a solution for nothing.

deise08

Op. You don't just have nothing to do. you've suggested three things yourself.
1 the parents
2 the wedding
3 the lads in work.
you have three options there yourself.
This year for me is looking fairly solitary.
friends all moved on wit their own things. family doin their own things with their own partners/kids.
new years eve isn't a great night. not what its cracked up to be but at least it softens the blow when you've someone to ring it in wit!
think it be me and jools by the sound of it.
you have options use one of them at least