July 4 is a memorable day for America and its people since it marks the day America gained freedom; it’s also a federal holiday and lots have the day off. Thus, many spend it with family and friends, enjoying picnics, parades, and fireworks. But what if you’re alone on 4th of July? Can you still celebrate, and if so, how do you celebrate when alone on the 4th of July?
You can still celebrate if alone on 4th of July. Many traditional activities like grilling hotdogs, watching fireworks, or going to a parade can be done alone. You can also start quiet 4th of July traditions for yourself at home like watching patriotic movies and reading historical books on America.
Though it seems the majority of Americans spend this day as a festive, exciting summer holiday with friends and family, there’s no reason you can’t spend it relaxing at home alone if you find you have no plans for the 4th. But even if you prefer the excitement of fireworks and marching bands, you can still celebrate the 4th in traditional ways if alone.
In this article I’ve shared some reasons some end up alone on 4th of July, as well as easy ideas to help you celebrate despite being alone on any particular Independence Day (certainly modifiable for any holiday ‘alone’ too).
I hope that they provide you with a meaningful way to spend your 4th of July, even if alone!
Contents
Why Some Are Alone on the 4th of July
Why are some people alone on the 4th of July?
Some people are alone the 4th of July because it’s just not feasible to be with family or friends. This could be because money is too tight to travel; it could also be that some don’t actually have family and there friends are too few or all busy. Still, others are alone because of work situations.
It might seem surprising, but it is true that not all folks will have companions, relatives, or family to spend this day, or any day with. It might be that older people lost their spouse and are alone for the first time. Perhaps they never had the blessings of children or their children are busy or live far away. Thus, they find themselves alone on 4th of July.
Then there are others who aren’t in a relationship so they don’t have a partner to be with on the holiday. Maybe their friends are busy with their immediate families and for one reason or another, didn’t invite their ‘alone’ friends to join the festivities.
Sometimes you have to work the holidays. People who are in the service industries are often particularly busy on holidays, even Independence Day. If you work at restaurants or movie theaters, you might be extra busy because all the other people have the day off and want to do those activities. So you didn’t plan for any 4th of July activities for yourself or you were working and couldn’t attend the 4th of July activities your friends or family had. This means once off from work, you’re alone on the 4th.
Based on this article, I suggest these for your next read:
- Are Restaurants Busy On The 4th Of July?
- Do You Say ‘Happy 4th Of July’ On Independence Day?
- How Could No Plans For New Year’s Eve Be For The Best?
The 4th Of July When You Can’t Be With Family or Friends
Though it may seem tedious or even depressing, you can still organize some activities to do solo if alone on the 4th of July! They don’t have to be difficult either.
The good news is that since you only have yourself to entertain or ‘think about’ when alone on 4th of July, you can celebrate by organizing the activities you enjoy!
For some people being alone on the holidays, even Independence Day, can feel depressing or sad. If this is the case, you might need to pay close attention to what effects your mood as you plan your activities.
Some thrive on the energy of others, so it might be a good idea to get out of the house. You can go to the mall, walk through a busy park, watch a parade in person, visit a museum (often they’re open on minor holidays like the 4th of July) or zoo. If being ‘around people’ helps lift your mood, these ideas should help!
Then some people are the opposite. It’s depressing to be around people when you don’t know them, and it can actually increase your anxiety about being alone, according to WebMD, thereby making you feel lonely.
Remember being alone and being lonely aren’t the same thing. You can enjoy being alone on 4th of July, but no one is happy about feeling lonely on holidays, or any day of the year.
To avoid feeling lonely if being in public places bothers you, enjoy your 4th of July at home. You can still have a special evening to celebrate without anyone else around.
There are several enjoyable activities you may do in your home to pass the time and have fun. I’ve listed some suggestions in the next section, but of course, these are just suggestions.
The key about being alone on the 4th of July (or any holiday) is to tailor it to your likes and preferences. This really isn’t a time to push yourself out of your comfort zone (unless that is something you actually like to do!).
Activities to keep you occupied on the 4th of July.
Make a Playlist of Your Favorite Songs
When you’re alone, making a playlist of your favorite music might help you pass the time. Songs have a way of making us feel good about ourselves and make us love our own company. You may utilize your free time to compile a playlist of your favorite music and listen to it all day. ( I highly suggest avoiding anything by Adele because her music is likely to evoke a different vibe for this event!)
People have developed a connection with various tunes they appreciate for a long time, and it’s so simple to enjoy a moment even when they’re alone. Music will create a conducive environment for you to forget about the moment and have a good time. This will be ideal for passing the time and celebrating July 4 alone.
Use this Time to Watch New or Patriotic Movies
Because most individuals are so preoccupied with work and other commitments throughout a typical day or spending the summer outdoors, you can spend this day catching up on new movies you’ve missed or viewing old patriotic favorites!
More than likely, streaming apps will have several recommendations so you can take your cue from there. It’s also possible to rent most new releases directly from your home, too, nowadays, if you don’t want to go out.
Some popular 4th of July movies our family enjoys each year are the Independence Day franchise, Mel Gibson’s The Patriot, or Patriot’s Day with Mark Walhberg. Depending on your mood, you’ll have lots to choose from to suit your movie evening!
Go to the Gym
Going to the gym might be a fun way to spend your vacation. If you enjoy working out, you can take advantage of this free time to go for a run. Physical activity improves your body’s ability to use oxygen as well as blood flow. Both of these changes have an immediate effect on your brain.
Exercise also boosts endorphins in our body, giving us an instant mood lift. This is the sense of well-being and exhilaration that many individuals experience after working out.
Physical activity might also help you forget about your troubles. The repeated actions of exercise encourage you to focus on your body rather than your mind. While working out, you may reap many of the same advantages of meditation by focusing on the rhythm of your movements. Concentrating on a single physical task can boost energy and optimism.
Take a Nap
Sleeping more soundly is believed to have several health advantages. These can include improved cardiac function, hormone maintenance, cell repair, and memory enhancement and cognitive function enhancement.
Essentially, sleeping allows your body to process everything that transpired throughout the day, heal itself, and reset for the next day. Napping has been proven to boost cognitive function, creative thinking, and memory performance in studies.
Naps have been demonstrated to improve the learning process by allowing us to absorb better and remember knowledge. Taking a nap also helps purge information from your brain’s temporary storage areas, preparing it to accept new knowledge.
Read a Book or Magazine
Academics believe that reading necessitates a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability improves, your neural networks get stronger and more sophisticated.
Brain scans revealed that brain connections increased during the reading period and for several days afterward, particularly in the somatosensory cortex, the part of the brain that responds to physical sensations like movement and pain.
Reading fiction allows you to temporarily escape your reality and become engrossed in the imagined experiences of the characters. Nonfiction self-help books can also teach you how to cope with symptoms.
For this holiday experience, I suggest focusing on books that provide some American history connection. You can find plenty of options in both the fiction and nonfiction genres and you don’t have to buy anything new, either. Libraries may not be open, but you can find library apps are, or look at Amazon Kindle for their free options.
Use this Time to Learn A New Skill or Take on a Hobby
You can utilize your spare time to hone some new skills that you’ve been meaning to learn.
It may be used to learn how to make your favorite recipe, too. This could work to perk up your 4th of July alone, too. Thereby serving two purposes. YouTube has lots of tutorials for making 4th of July treats!
You might even use it to develop other abilities you already have. Maybe you have a project you’ve been putting off.
Maybe you took up a hobby awhile back but have since pushed it aside, being too busy to work on it. Now’s the time!
Wrapping Up Being Alone on 4th of July (Easy tips)
To wrap it up, one day you may find yourself alone on 4th of July, but it doesn’t have to be depressing or sad. You can be alone without being lonely!
Whether you attend some traditional activities like fireworks or a parade alone, or do something solo at home, celebrating the 4th of July doesn’t have to stop just because you are by yourself.
Based on this article, I suggest these for your next read:
