With the holidays quickly approaching, being recently divorced can be challenging. Activities you traditionally did when you were married, may be painful to continue. And if you have kids, it may be even more painful if they are not with you for the holidays.
How do you stop post-divorce holiday blues?
Start planning now for your newfound post-divorce life. It’s your time to break from the traditions that frustrated you and to explore new traditions. Here are 10 ideas to consider:
1- Escape by taking a trip. Whether you pick a place nearby or far away, start a new tradition by visiting that city annually.
2- Host a toy drive or canned food collection. If you don’t want to be the primary organizer, look for existing efforts in your community.
3- Pick another date to celebrate the holidays (e.g., have a pre-Thanksgiving celebration in October or celebrate Christmas in July). As your children grow and begin their own families, it’ll be easier to keep this tradition without conflict with their in-laws.
4- Volunteer at a nursing home. You’ll bring joy to others who may not have family to visit them during the holidays.
5- Stay at a luxury hotel in or near your home. It’ll be a way to indulge yourself without going too far.
6- Sign-up to help feed the homeless in your community. Helping others when you’re feeling blue can help you refocus your energy.
7- Turn off social media and start a new home project, catch up on reading, or binge watch a new series. The key is to turn off social media to minimize feeling blue about the holidays.
8- Contact the volunteer coordinator at your local hospital and find out what you can do to help out during the holidays. Many facilities will have minimal staffing and will need some type of help with patients.
9- Gather friends to participate in a non-traditional activity such as bowling or miniature golf. Plan this activity for the day after a holiday when your friends will be ready to escape their family drama.
10- Start planning what you want to accomplish in the new year. Use the 5 P’s of Life to help guide you.
One of the hard parts about life after a divorce is dealing with all the changes, especially during the holidays. Your beloved traditions may need to be altered. Be flexible and creative. Take this opportunity to ditch the traditions you dreaded and create new ones.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Niv Persaud, CFP®, CDFA™, RICP®, CRPC®, is the Founder of Transition Planning & Guidance, LLC. Life is more than money. It’s about living the lifestyle you want and can afford. For that reason, Niv consults with clients on money, life, and work. Her approach capitalizes on techniques she learned throughout her career, including as a management consultant, executive recruiter, and financial advisor. Her services include developing spending plans, comprehensive financial plans, divorce financial reviews, retirement plans. Niv actively gives back to her community through her volunteer efforts. She believes in living life to the fullest by cherishing friendships, enjoying the beauty of nature and laughing often — even at herself. Her favorite quote is by Erma Bombeck, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say ‘I used everything you gave me.’”