CNN —Traditionally, the holidays are for spending time with family and friends, perhaps with a varying degree of religious rituals or practices. So, if you’re spending the holidays alone this year, you’re actually not alone in wondering if it’s OK to be alone. You hold the ticket to your happiness, even if you’re spending the holidays (or any special day of the year) in a less conventional way—all by yourself. Spending the holidays alone can feel lonely or empty, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The benefits of simply being outside and surrounding yourself with nature are plenty, and why not rack up those benefits when you’re spending the day or week alone?

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Persons: There’s, you’re, Diana Winston, ” Winston, Bryant Williams, Leana Wen, Karmel Choi, Oscar Wong, Williams, ”, ” Williams, Winston, Oleg Breslavtsev, “, Adam Brown, ” It’s, ” Sophie Lazarus Organizations: CNN, UCLA, UCLA Health, “, JAMA, Getty, Ohio State University Locations: ., York, ’