The holiday season both marks the end of the year and a completely new beginning for the year ahead. If a person has separated from a spouse in the prior year, this time can be intimidating. From deciding which parties a person can attend, to spending the holidays apart from children, the first holiday season following a divorce can be one the hardest ones.
Start the Holiday Season Off Right
This holiday season, make it a priority to stay joyful with realistic expectations. By going into this time with a positive attitude, a person can make this big step a little bit easier.
Five ways to survive the first holidays after a divorce is by:
- Spend time with friends and family to avoid navigating this terrain solo, and reach out to other individuals that may be spending their holidays alone.
- Create a holiday vacation schedule with the former spouse to ensure that both parties experience ample time with the children and leave the children out of any conflicts that may occur.
- Avoid places that formerly held special memories, and instead opt to make new memories.
- Try to schedule a vacation around the holidays, even if just to spend time with a friend in a nearby city to get some relaxation
- Make a New Year's Resolution that allows a person to put themselves first and gets the new year going in the right direction.
Holidays following a divorce can be difficult. Taking a moment to end the year on a positive note can set a firm example for the year ahead.