How to plan the perfect Thanksgiving for one

There's always a moment each Thanksgiving when I begin to wish I'd stayed home alone. While I love the promise of reunion and the sweet aroma of home-cooked delicacies just as much as anyone else, any time you cram three families' worth of people into a home built for one, slow-boil the awkward tensions and stir in an excessive amount of unrealistic expectations, you've got a recipe for disaster - with plenty left over for Christmas.

That's why when I moved from New York to Tennessee six years ago, I decided to "forget" to book a flight home that November so that I could celebrate the holiday however I chose, without any of the judgment, heated conversations or tense encounters that can boil up during large family dinners.

The first year, I'll admit, was less than perfect. Picture a sad little freelance writer holed up in a dark apartment, inhaling a stash of snack cakes liberated from a "Take one" bowl in the building's lobby while attempting to also fill his inner-emptiness with romantic comedies.

Over the years, however, as I've taken off the occasional Thanksgiving to give myself (and, if we're being honest, my family) a break, I've learned how to change the solo celebration from something I merely tolerate to something I look forward to and thoroughly enjoy.

This year, many people will find themselves alone during the holiday season. If you're one of them, it doesn't mean you have to just ride out the day. Whether you'll be alone due to circumstances beyond your control or you're just daydreaming about the prospect of solitude, here are a couple of ways I've learned to ensure a Thanksgiving-for-one is one you can be thankful for.

STEP 1: Make a game plan.

STEP 1: Make a game plan.

The quickest way to get in the holiday spirit is to make sure you have something to look forward to, and I'm not just talking food. Put down the snack cakes and decide how you plan to treat yourself or what activity you want to do - and do so days in advance so you have time to let the anticipation build. Remember, this is your day, so don't feel obligated to do something just because you feel like it's what you're supposed to do on Thanksgiving. If there's an art project you've been dying to finish up, now's the time. If you want to spend the entire afternoon curled up with a favorite book or movie, go for it. If you're itching to get outside the house, here are a few of my favorite ways to spend the day.

A section of boardwalk winds through the trees along the South Chickamauga Creek.

Fall hikes

With crisp leaves covering the ground and most deciduous trees bare, late November is the perfect time to visit trails along creeks and rivers to get a better view of the waterways obscured by vegetation throughout the rest of the year. Two suggestions for a long, peaceful Thanksgiving hike are:

» South Chickamauga Greenway: The paved paths and boardwalks on this greenway always provide a great view of the forested creek banks they overlook, but that view is just a little more special when the bare trees give visitors a sneak peak of the canoes and kayaks lazing on the creek's waters.

» Tennessee Riverwalk: Double your dose of late-autumn beauty by walking the 190-foot bridge that connects the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway to this 13-mile riverside path, which also offers gorgeous views of the water.

Spirited strollers participate in the Grateful Gobbler Walk, an event that benefits the Chattanooga Homeless Coalition.

Charity runs

If you're looking to burn off the inevitable treat-yourself calories, meet new people or just give back to the community, these two local 5k events were made just for you.

» Grateful Gobbler | Coolidge Park | 8 a.m. | $10-$25: This "walk, roll and stroll" includes an aptly named "Sleepwalkers" option for those who want to help from the warmth of their bedroom. Proceeds benefit the Maclellan Shelter for Families, an emergency homeless shelter that provides a stable environment for families to remain together as they search for permanent housing solutions.

» Sportsbarn Turkey Trot | Sportsbarn East | 8:30 a.m. | $20-$27: This walk/run includes an 8k run for those a little more adventurous. Proceeds benefit the Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga, which has been providing help and information to those diagnosed with kidney disease since 1989.

Skaters enjoy fun and recreation at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Ice on the Landing.

Holiday Activities

For some people, the Christmas season begins right after the Thanksgiving dishes have been put away. While I have never fallen into this category myself, if you do, Chattanooga's got you covered. End the day with a cup of cocoa and that warm yuletide spirit while checking out:

» Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights: With nearly 1 million LED lights showcasing more than 30 holiday scenes, this extravagant walk-through light show is a wonderland you don't need to wait till winter to behold. It will be open from 6-9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

» Ice on the Landing: Kick-start the season with a few laps around this ice-skating rink at the Chattanooga Choo Choo complex. For hours, check www.iceonthelanding.com.

» Grand Illumination and Lighted Boat Parade: Each year on the day after Thanksgiving, dozens of boats decked out with festive lights parade beneath the Walnut Street Bridge, illuminating the dark waters as they usher in the Christmas season. Soon after, more than 130 downtown buildings, bridges and parks join in the celebration by shining bright for all to see.

STEP 2: Simplify your feast. And don't forget to set a timer!

STEP 2: Simplify your feast.

If cooking is your passion and you're eager to spend the day making magic in the kitchen, then full speed ahead! But if you're skipping out on Thanksgiving celebrations to escape the never-ending hassle of kitchen work, you can still bake a cake and have plenty of time to eat it, too. Cut down on kitchen time by:

» Resisting the urge to make your meal from scratch: It may not be as mind-blowing as the masterpiece you could have whipped up given a few hours, but there's no shame in heading to a nearby supermarket to buy desserts and pre-made sides like cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole and turkey gravy. Aside from quicker prep time, the decision will mean less pots to clean.

» Buying your turkey in smaller portions: You can still have a Thanksgiving dinner without buying the whole bird. Most grocery stores sell turkey breasts throughout the year, meaning you can roast a bird the same as always but in a fraction of the time.

» Making your entire meal in one baking pan: If you're not keen on having too much food left over, try using a 12-cup muffin tin to bake a couple of single-serving sides and desserts at once. You can designate three of the cups to rolls, three to miniature pies of your choosing and the remaining six to two sides of your choosing, such as mac and cheese cups, stuffing muffins or individual scalloped potatoes. You can mix and match whatever combinations you desire so long as you make sure the cook time and temperature for each recipe is relatively the same.

Decorate your home with sticky notes reminding you of all the things that have brought you joy throughout the year.

STEP 3: Give thanks your way.

I've never been particularly fond of the age-old Thanksgiving tradition where you go around the table, one by one, and announce what you're grateful for. It's always felt somewhat forced to me. Luckily, one of the perks of celebrating solo is that you get to be a little more creative about how you express your thankfulness. The options are limitless. You can:

» Identify 10 people who have had a significant impact on your life over the past year and write them a detailed letter, email or text to say "thank you" and let them know how they made a difference.

» Sit in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eyes and, as if speaking to someone else, compliment yourself on all the ways you've grown since last Thanksgiving.

An attitude of gratitude: a reminder jar can serve as a highly personal way to give thanks.

1. My fellow writers Emily Crisman and Sunny Montgomery, who are the guardians of my sanity.

2. The fact that I even have a family to avoid during the holidays. Not everyone is so fortunate.

3. The fact that I even can avoid my family during the holidays. Not everyone is so fortunate.

STEP 4: Stay connected with loved ones.

STEP 4: Stay connected.

» Even if you've chosen to be alone this November, you don't have to isolate yourself from friends and family. My favorite part of each Thanksgiving I've spent on my own is calling my younger sister at the end of the day and chuckling as she fumes about all the holiday arguments and stressors I sought to avoid in the first place.

The phone always gets passed to my mom, who's so busy that she has just enough time to pass on well wishes but not enough time to question my relationship status; then it somehow ends up in the hands of my giggling 4-year-old nephew, who attempts to make coherent conversation while his poor father (my older brother) chases him around the house.

Listening to my family's holiday madness while in a calm, relaxed state of mind makes me long to be around them in a way I wouldn't if I were smack dab in the middle of the chaos. Because at the end of the day, no matter how colorfully kooky they may be, they're still my family and I love them with every fiber of my being.

I just happen to love them a little bit more when they're 845 miles away.