Jodi’s Journal: Easing the season of loneliness

Dec. 21, 2025

I’ll acknowledge I have no way of proving if this figure is accurate, but I’ll share it nonetheless.

According to a study I was sent recently, 37,495 South Dakotans will be spending Christmas alone this year.

The survey, from an organization focused on mental health called A Mission for Michael, polled 3,000 adults who live alone and then extrapolated the data nationally to conclude an estimated 14 million American will spend this Christmas alone.

The reasons vary:

• 29% live far from family or friends and can’t make the trip
• 17% say travel is simply too expensive
• 20% are staying away due to family conflict
• 11% are tied up with work
• 16% say they actually prefer to spend Christmas alone
• 7% don’t celebrate Christmas at all

And while not everyone opposes the solitude, a significant portion describe feeling the following:

• 25% say they feel lonely
• 22% feel sad
• 9% report being overwhelmed
• 7% are anxious
• 37% are simply indifferent

Nearly half — 47 percent — said they felt a stigma in spending Christmas alone, while 27 percent said this Christmas might be their loneliest yet. More than half — 56 percent — believe we are living through a “silent epidemic” of holiday isolation.

“We often think of Christmas as a time of joy, but for many people, it becomes a mirror for everything they feel they’re missing,” said Anand Meta, the organization’s executive director. “Loneliness doesn’t take a holiday, but neither does hope – and the more we normalize these feelings, the easier it becomes to reach out, speak up, or simply take the pressure off a ‘perfect’ Christmas.”

Desiree Osborne can relate.

She and her husband, Paul, moved from Michigan several years ago and didn’t know anyone.

“We had the luxury of having each other but we were still alone, and we weren’t able to go home,” she said. “So we can definitely relate, and I can’t even really imagine what someone who is alone (feels) and especially for the first time — (because of) loss, or kids are all out and they were a single parent or just moved here and can’t get home. We don’t want them to be by themselves.”

So they’re opening up one of their Dell Rapids businesses, the Meeting Nook, on Christmas Day for anyone who would like somewhere to go.

“I kept seeing so many people are alone for the holidays, and if you have extra just bless people,” she said. “They don’t have to bring anything or do anything. They just come and no pressure.”

Other businesses in town have stepped in to offer help, and the plan is to make a meal of ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese and pies.

“We joined forces and everyone is helping cook or decorate or help wherever they can,” Osborne said. “The response and people willing to help has been amazing.”

Sign up for the meal or volunteer by Monday here.

Or, if you’re hosting this holiday season, consider extending an invite to someone who might appreciate one.

It doesn’t take a lot of searching to find how increasingly common it is to be lonely.

I saw multiple references to how roughly one in three adults globally are experiencing it, and rates are rising especially among younger people. It’s become recognized as a major public health issue, impacting both mental and physical health.

It’s also extremely common among top leadership in business, with more than 70 percent of new CEOs reporting feelings of loneliness.

I don’t think there’s ever a bad time to make the call, send the message, invite someone to catch up. But these next few weeks and leading into the heart of the winter seem like an especially opportune one.

It’s possible, of course, to be alone and not be lonely. It’s also possible seemingly to be surrounded by people and still be lonely. This Christmas week, if we all made an effort to make at least one reconnection, I bet that gift would multiply.

Jodi’s Journal: For those missing loved ones this Christmas, this is a must read

The post Jodi’s Journal: Easing the season of loneliness appeared first on SiouxFalls.Business.