Surviving Your First Holiday Season After a Divorce
The holidays can be a joyous time—a chance for you to get together with your loved ones and celebrate. If you’ve recently gone through a divorce, however, getting through the month of December may end up being more of a challenge than a pleasure. Your family is no longer what it once was and, if you have kids, the possibility of spending the holidays apart from them can be difficult to bear. However, your first holiday after divorce doesn’t have to be unpleasant. It can even offer a chance to begin some new holiday traditions!
Post-Divorce Tips for Surviving the Holidays
Here are a few strategies for making the best of your first holiday after divorce:
- Be Realistic in Your Expectations. Even people who haven’t gone through a divorce often place unreasonable expectations on the holiday season. If you’re newly single and navigating the holidays, it’s an especially good idea to adjust your mindset. The truth is, you don’t know what the holidays will be like this year. Don’t expect them to be like they were before, but avoid setting any concrete expectations. Instead, allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised by the joys of the season!
- Create New Traditions. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or none of these, every family has their own holiday traditions. After a divorce, these traditions will almost certainly change. However, rather than bemoan this loss, use it as a chance to create new traditions that your family will look forward to each year.
- Put Your Children First. Divorces are especially hard for children, and their first holiday after divorce is going to be a bit disorienting for them. If you have children, make sure you prioritize their needs above all else, even if it means spending less time with them over the holidays than you would like.
- Do Something New for Yourself. Divorce is an ending, but it’s also a new beginning. The holiday season can be busy, but it’s a great opportunity to carve out some time for yourself to do something you’ve always wanted to try. Whether that’s a solo trip to a city you’ve always wanted to visit or a new adventure such as skydiving, now is the time to go for it.
Practice Self Care. The holiday season can take its toll on anyone, but if you’ve recently gotten divorced, it can leave you feeling especially depleted. Make sure you check in with yourself frequently. Taking some time to meditate or go for a walk is essential amidst the chaos of the holiday season.
Contact a Divorce Lawyer Today
The December holidays pose a special set of challenges for people who’ve recently gone through a divorce, but that doesn’t mean that this season won’t be as rewarding as it was before. To learn more about navigating the holidays post-divorce—or for any other questions you might have—do not hesitate to reach out to the experienced attorneys at Lazor Rantas, PC by calling 973-457-8844 or by filling out the form below.
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