Hey everyone, Summer here.

So we've made it through the void, we've survived the week that doesn't exist, and now we're staring down New Year's Eve—arguably the most pressure-packed night of the entire year.

It's December 30th, which means you've got about 24-48 hours to figure out what you're doing tomorrow night. And if you're feeling a little stressed about that, or if you're wondering why society insists we need to have the BEST NIGHT EVER on this one specific arbitrary date... you're not alone.

Let's talk about New Year's Eve—the expectations, the reality, and how to actually enjoy it instead of spending the whole night feeling like you're failing at celebration.

Grab your coffee, let's ease into this.

PART ONE: THE PRESSURE PROBLEM 

Here's what nobody tells you about New Year's Eve: it's the most overrated night of the year, and we all secretly know it, but we keep pretending it's magical anyway.

Think about it. New Year's Eve is the only night where there's this massive cultural expectation that you MUST be having the time of your life. You're supposed to be at the perfect party, wearing the perfect outfit, with the perfect people, drinking champagne at midnight, kissing someone special, and feeling like you're launching into a brand new chapter of your life.

And if you're not doing all of that? If you're home in sweatpants? If you don't have a kiss at midnight? If you're working? If you just... don't feel particularly excited about the arbitrary transition from December 31st to January 1st? Then somehow you're doing it wrong.

That's ridiculous.

I've had New Year's Eves at fancy parties where I felt lonely in a crowd. I've had New Year's Eves at home alone that felt peaceful and perfect. I've had New Year's Eves where I had massive plans that fell through, and I spent the night feeling disappointed. And I've had New Year's Eves where I had zero plans and ended up having unexpected adventures.

The common thread? The best New Year's Eves were the ones where I stopped trying to manufacture magic and just let the night be what it was.

So first thing: release the pressure. New Year's Eve is just another night. Yes, it marks a transition on the calendar. But your life doesn't magically transform at midnight. The problems you have on December 31st will still exist on January 1st. The good things in your life will still be good. Nothing fundamentally changes except the number we write on checks—if anyone still writes checks.

If you have fun plans, great. If you don't, also great. If you're working, that's valid. If you're staying home, that's perfect. If you're grieving or struggling or just exhausted from the holidays, you have permission to let New Year's Eve be low-key or even skipped entirely.

The calendar doesn't care what you do tomorrow night. And neither should anyone else.

PART TWO: DECIDING WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT 

So here's the real question: What do YOU actually want to do tomorrow night?

Not what Instagram says you should do. Not what your friends are pressuring you to do. Not what you think you're supposed to do. What do you, personally, actually want?

Because here's the thing—there's no wrong answer.

Some people genuinely love big parties. The energy, the noise, the crowds, the countdown, the champagne toast—that's their thing. If that's you, awesome. Go forth and party.

Some people prefer intimate gatherings—close friends, good food, meaningful conversation, watching the ball drop together from someone's living room. That's equally valid.

Some people want to be alone. Maybe with a good book, a nice bottle of wine, a favorite movie, intentional solitude to reflect on the year and set intentions for the next. That's not sad or pathetic—that's self-aware.

Some people want to ignore New Year's Eve entirely. Go to bed at 9 PM, sleep through midnight, wake up January 1st without any fuss. Perfectly reasonable.

The key is being honest with yourself about what sounds good, not what you think should sound good.

Here's a little exercise: Close your eyes for a second and imagine tomorrow night. What version of New Year's Eve makes you feel most relaxed? Most yourself? Most content?

That's your answer. That's what you should do.

If the answer is "nothing sounds good because I'm exhausted from the holidays and just want to survive until January 2nd when life returns to normal," then your New Year's Eve plan should be: survive. Rest. Lower all expectations to zero.

There's no prize for having the most epic New Year's Eve. There's no judgment committee evaluating whether you celebrated correctly. You get to define what a good night looks like for you.

PART THREE: PRACTICAL GETTING-READY ADVICE

Okay, so you've decided what you want to do. Now let's talk about actually getting ready, depending on what you chose.

If you're going out:

First: Lower your expectations about what "going out" requires. You don't need a brand new outfit. You don't need to spend a fortune. You can wear something you already own and feel good in. Comfortable shoes are more important than fashionable shoes when you're standing around at a party for hours.

Make plans but hold them loosely. New Year's Eve is notorious for plans falling apart—traffic, crowds, cover charges, long lines, overbooked venues. Have a backup plan. Be flexible. Don't let plan-failure ruin your night.

If you're drinking, plan how you're getting home BEFORE you start drinking. Uber, Lyft, designated driver, staying over—figure it out in advance so drunk-you doesn't have to make safety decisions.

Eat before you go out. Seriously. Alcohol on an empty stomach plus expensive bar food is a recipe for regret.

If you're staying in:

Treat it like the intentional choice it is, not a consolation prize. Make your space nice. Light candles, put on good music, prepare food you actually enjoy. Create ambiance.

If you're alone by choice, honor that. Journal, reflect, set intentions, watch the movie you've been wanting to see, take a long bath, do whatever feels nourishing.

If you're alone but wish you weren't, reach out. Text friends who might also be home. Video chat someone. You're probably not the only person in your circle who opted out of big plans.

If you're hosting:

Keep it simple. You don't need elaborate decorations or complicated food. Snacks, drinks, good playlist, comfortable seating—that's it. Your friends are coming for connection, not to judge your hosting skills.

Let people contribute. Potluck style means less stress for you and more variety for everyone.

Have a plan for midnight—whether you're watching the ball drop, doing a countdown, toasting with champagne, or ignoring it entirely. Just decide in advance so there's no awkward "wait, is it midnight?" moment.

If you're working:

First: you have my sympathy. Working New Year's Eve while everyone else is celebrating is rough.

But also: there's dignity in it. Someone has to staff hospitals, police departments, fire stations, gas stations, 24-hour diners. If that's you, know that you're appreciated even if it doesn't feel like it.

Celebrate when you can. Maybe that's a small toast with coworkers at midnight. Maybe that's celebrating on January 2nd when you have a day off. Holidays don't have to happen on their designated dates.

CONCLUSION 

Here's what I want yo...