I often ask myself if I should feel guilty saying this, but I'd rather spend Christmas on my own or with friends. Can you relate?
For many people facing the prospect of a tricky family get-together, the thought of a solo Christmas is less 'grinch' and more 'gift'. So if you're among the many who find themselves alone this year - whether by design or out of necessity - here are some recommendations for stylishly solitary celebrations:
If you're a lone flyer with deep pockets:
A friend's husband has fond memories of the year a snowstorm left him suddenly unable to join his family abroad. He happened to be passing the Ritz in Mayfair, the fancy central area of London, so, on a whim he checked in and the 25th saw him drinking champagne and ordering room service. For those who can afford a splurge, it's a very classy solution to the problem!
If you're a student, working for a start-up, or (for whatever reason!) totally broke:
Not everyone can check into a luxury hotel of course; what of students stranded by covid, or those just starting out? A big salary isn't necessary if you can gather together with others in the same position. To save on the costs of entertaining, what about a pot-luck Christmas dinner where everyone brings a dish and a beverage from his or her home country, for a truly international feast?
If you’re heartbroken and can't bear the thought of enforced good cheer:
It's best to get out of your comfort zone, and there's nothing like a far-flung destination - and maybe a physical challenge - to take your mind off the heartache. If finances (or current travel restrictions) don't permit it, another solution closer to home is to volunteer for a cause that is meaningful to you. Sometimes it's just too much to force yourself to be cheerful when you're feeling low - but by doing good, you'll be able to comfort yourself with the knowledge that you're bringing happiness to others.
If you can't escape tradition:
Of course, there are those who can't avoid family at the holidays - and it's possible to feel alone even in a crowd. My advice for making the best of it? Pitch in! Offer to walk the dog, run to the shop for more wine, set the table, or even clear up; after all, your mother can't corner you about your love life, à la Bridget Jones diary, if you keep busy enough. And, who knows? With some festive music and a full glass, even washing dishes isn't so bad…
if you're a discovery type,
...that likes to detach and all you need is to disappear into the white mountains...
You’re lucky !!
So whether your 2021 holiday soundtrack plays Eartha, Mariah Carrey or Wham!, and even if you for whatever reason are flying solo this year, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Linda
A last look to the past ⌛
Latest startups’ news from 2021 📰
Forget traditional funding! Galeon just raised 2.7M$ through an ICO.
Elax Energie just raised 700k€ to keep on optimising building energy use.
Are you tired of NFTs yet? You shouldn’t! Lovo is launching voice NFTs, in addition to their voice synthesis business.
Mourning is always a tough time to go through. To ease the pain, AdVitam is now providing their services to more partners.
Goodvest is making waves in the life insurance ecosystem, come read the interview of Joseph, its CEO, in Forbes.
Ever wondered about the return process of e-commerce purchases? You can discover SmartBack in less than 90s.
Looking toward our future 🔮
L'Oréal Dare Awards 🏆
If you have been paying attention, you know that we have been carrying projects in partnership with L'Oréal for quite some time.
And one event that we hold every year is that of the Dare Award.
So come explore what projects were selected around sustainable ideas for the future.
HEC Gifts 🎁
You should be worried if all of your Christmas gifts are not ready yet!
But in case you struggled this year, you should remember for the next occasion that we always provide good recommendations of companies from which to purchase unique gifts to make those events unforgettable.
What about your future? 🎯
Find your dream job! 💼
Do you believe that Data Science and real estate are a match made in heaven?
Lokimo is looking for a data scientist intern.
Do you love art? Do you love digital?
Artpoint is looking for a partnership manager.
Do you think that brands are not using e-commerce to its fullest today?
Ayolab is looking for a data analyst intern.
Do you believe the coding world should be more diverse?
Ada Tech School is looking for Campus Manager Right Hand.
Do you want to explore the Korean startup scene?
NR2 is looking for a software engineer intern.
Do you believe our lungs should receive more care?
R-Pur is looking for a web content manager.
Do you believe that paper user manuals are a thing of the past?
Pimster is looking for a CEO right hand.
Before you leave us to spend the next week sitting at holiday meals, here is your reading list 📚
You heard about No-Code, but you are not sure how it can change the game?
Jean-Remi Gratadour, Executive Director of HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, is bringing some light on the topic.
What’s the link between Rubik’s Cubes and Supply Chain?
To get the answer, listen to this podcast with our expert, Hervé Dechêne.
What can you expect from GovTech?
Explore the fundamentals of this “new” ecosystem with Justine from RoomBâ.
What are the essential legal documents for an e-commerce website?
Get the basics with Coralline Manier Galas from Woog & Associés.
«Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.»