The holidays are a special time of year. They’re a time to spend with family, exchange gifts, and reflect on the past year. But for many, the holidays are also a time of stress and anxiety. The holidays can be even more difficult if you’re going through a divorce or facing your first holiday season without a partner. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are things you can do to prepare so that you can make the holiday season more enjoyable. Here are tips for how to approach the holidays after a divorce.
Focus on Healing
Have you heard of the new term “cuffing season”? It refers to when someone gets into a relationship for different reasons during the fall and into winter. According to the Today Show, the popularity of cuffing season can be attributed to a number of things, but it mainly comes down to loneliness. It’s the thread that weaves through the primary causes of cuffing season: poor mental health and family expectations.
This is not the time to cuff, cuffle, cuffleopolis….whatever you call it. You must heal. When you are feeling lonely and sad during the holidays, you still have healing to do. Getting into a new relationship will not heal you.
Read more about taking the time to find healing after divorce.
Find Healing and Happiness
Instead of looking for your healing and happiness in a rushed relationship, do these four things instead.
Number 1: Make a plan.
Decide how you’re going to spend the holidays and who with whom. This will help to reduce feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.
Number 2: Do what makes you happy.
Take some time for yourself and do things that make you happy. Like to bake? Make some goodies and take them to your neighbors. Drive around, look at Christmas lights, say yes to a party invitation, put on the fuzzy socks, and settle in with some hot cocoa and a good book, or volunteer.
Number 3: Lean on family and friends.
Reach out to family and friends for support during these difficult times. You don’t have to spend the holidays alone. Would you say no if a friend or family member asked to join you for a holiday meal? I don’t believe you would. I believe you would welcome them in and not think a thing about it. Your friends and family will do the same for you.
Number 4: Create your own traditions.
Don’t be afraid to start over and create new traditions. Some of my favorite traditions with my kids started after the divorce. One favorite thing is random acts of kindness every day in December until Christmas. This does not have to be costly. We pushed all the carts in the parking lot at Wal-Mart back inside, left a quarter in a gumball machine, taped a dollar to a toy at the Dollar Store, and wrote thank you notes to people in our lives that we appreciated.
Looking for more single mom inspiration? These articles are here to inspire you!
Embrace the changes and look forward to the future. Your story did not end with divorce. It’s time to turn the page.
In Closing: Cherish This Time of Hope and Happiness
Remember to focus on the positive. The holidays are a time for hope and happiness, so try to focus on the good things in your life. This might be spending time with loved ones, volunteering at a local shelter, or simply enjoying the spirit of the season. Whatever it is, make sure to cherish it and enjoy every moment.
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