6 reasons I'm skipping Christmas this year

1. I'm a grown adult. It's my choice. And in a year of running experiments (therapy, going on retreat, writing from the gut, being more honest than I'm comfortable with) it seemed like an interesting experiment to end the year with. The less Christmas-y things I did this month, the more I noticed how people around me were only doing things because they felt they had no choice not to. Christmas parties, getting pissed up for 5 or 6 days on the trot with work colleagues they didn't even like that much, etc etc.

2. Although I love them very much, my family are a pain in the ass to spend time with. And the pressure for everyone to "just get along" on Christmas Day makes things even worse. If I had my own family it wouldn't be a problem if I wanted to spend it with them — so why should that change because I'm single?

3. After a month of 7 day weeks, I need some quality me time. Just been on a solo bike ride around London. Not sure what I'll be doing with the rest of the day. But solitude is a fine gift to give yourself.

4. Christmas Jumpers. Is it just me or have they reached a new low this year? More moronic than ironic. For me they are seem to be symbolic of the hollowness of Christmas.

5. I'm £6,000 in debt and have boxes of unused items all over my bedroom. I don't need more stuff, nor do I have money to buy any. By opting out of Christmas I won't be receiving another stack of things I don't need.

6. The whole celebration of excess thing. With or without the religious layer on top of that.