With so much going on in the lead up to Christmas, it can be easy to forget about making New Year’s Eve plans. For most people, New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect on the last 12 months and start thinking about goals for the year ahead.
Whether New Year’s Eve is a happy, sad, or hopeful time for you, we’ve come up with a few last-minute plan ideas to help you make the most of your evening.
1. Host a dinner party
New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular nights of the year for pubs and restaurants so it can be difficult to get a last-minute reservation.
So, why not take control of your evening and host a little dinner party at home? It’s the perfect time to invite a small selection of friends and/or family over to see in the New Year together.
If you don’t want to spend your whole evening cooking, you can make it a group effort with each guest bringing something to contribute to the meal. This is a great opportunity to get together with the people you love and reminisce over the highs and lows of the past year, without having to spend excess money or worry about travel.
If you’re stuck on what to cook, you’ll find loads of great recipes in the food and drink section of our website.
2. Video call a friend
The great thing about New Year’s Eve is it’s an international celebration that unites people from all corners of the world.
So if you’d rather stay at home this year, why not schedule a call with a friend and crack open the champagne together? Whether they live abroad, at the other end of the UK, or you just don’t get to see them much, this is a wonderful way to catch up with a loved one, while having a relaxing, stress-free evening.
If they live abroad, a slight overlap in time zones might even mean you get to celebrate the clock striking midnight twice in one evening, and how many people can say they’ve done that?
If you don’t do a lot of video chatting and think you might need some guidance, check out our article; How to video call your friends and family.
3. Visit a friend or family member who’d otherwise spend the evening alone
If you know that a friend or family member is likely to be alone at home this New Years Eve, why not pay them a visit?
It can be easy to get swept up in the New Year excitement and follow the crowds – but try not to forget that not everyone will be out on the town.
By having dinner with a friend or family member who’s home alone, you could make a huge difference to how they view the year ahead. No one should be alone on New Year’s Eve if they don’t want to be.
4. Stay in with your pet
Along with Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest and noisiest nights of the year. With so many people using fireworks as a way to see in the New Year, it’s important to remember that while this is great fun for some, it isn’t for others – and by this, we mean our pets!
New Year’s Eve can be a particularly traumatic time for pets as they’re startled by all the loud bangs. So why not stay in with them this New Year’s Eve? You can see in the New Year by having a snuggle on the sofa and feeling reassured that your furry best friend isn’t quivering under the dinner table whilst you’re out having fun.
If you’ve got friends who also have pets, why not invite them over too? There’ll be plenty of cuddles to be had!
5. Plan the year ahead
New Year’s Eve can be a great time to sit down with friends and family (or on your own) and make exciting plans for the year ahead.
Whether you want to be healthier, start a new career, or explore a new hobby, 2024 could be the time to turn dreams into reality.
So why not grab a glass of wine and a bite to eat, and get brainstorming? There really is no better time to think about new beginnings and to start out on an exciting new adventure. For ideas on how to start the year right, check out our article; 11 ideas for a productive January. And, to explore your goals further, why not consider making a vision board?
Final thoughts…
New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration and reflection, and you don’t necessarily have to go out to a pub, club, or party to ring in the year and look back on the months behind you.
As with all things, it’s important to do what feels right for you. So, if that means chilling out at home by yourself or with a few loved ones, that’s perfectly okay.
Now that you’ve got your evening sorted, it’s time to sit back and watch 2024 roll in…
Have a Happy New Year, from all of us at Rest Less.
What are you planning to do to celebrate the New Year? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.