If Valentine’s Day is important to you, and you’re recently divorced, you may be uneasy about spending your first Valentine’s Day alone, especially if you aren’t ready to begin dating. Although spending the holiday alone may be difficult, you can get through this day in one piece. If you’re concerned about coping with spending Valentine’s Day alone, check out these tips for the holiday.
Remember, It’s Just a Day
Valentine’s Day is a day just like any other day. It just so happens that today is the day that society has chosen to celebrate love, specifically romantic love. If you really can’t stand the red and pink decorations, or the commercials on TV, it may be a good idea to take the day off and hang out at home. Though a lot of people don’t place a large importance on the holiday, many people do. If you’re one of those people, there’s no shame in taking steps to shield yourself from unnecessary pain, especially if you already have the day off, or you can take time off without being in trouble.
There Are Many Different Ways to Love
For some reason or another, our society has placed romantic love at the top of the list when it comes to the best or most important love ever. However, it’s important to remember that there are many other ways to love. In fact, it’s estimated that around 1% of the population has no desire to engage in romantic or sexual relationships. This shows us that there are other ways to love and, most notably, platonic love is just as important as romantic love. If Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, you can celebrate your love for your family and friends, and the love you have for them is just as important as the love you can have for a romantic partner.
Make Sure that You Have Plans
If spending the holiday by yourself is particularly rough, you may want to see if you’ve got friends who can spend the holiday with you. As previously mentioned, many couples don’t see Valentine’s Day as a big deal. If you have friends who are like this, they may find the idea of an informal hang out to be more fun than a dinner at a crowded restaurant. If you don’t have friends or family members that are free that night, you can always use an app like Meet-Up to find group events near you. Also, you can google events near you and look for ones that take place on Valentine’s Day.
Practice Self-Care
This Valentine’s Day, you can be your own Valentine. After a hectic holiday season, many people are eager to relax and destress. If the holiday season has you feeling stretched beyond your limit, Valentine’s Day can be your day to recuperate. Instead of dressing up in an uncomfy outfit, and going out to an overpriced restaurant, you can stay at home and commit to taking care of yourself. Whether that involves a spa day at home, watching your favorite movie, or cooking your favorite meal, you can always spend the evening getting some much needed relaxation.
Consider Working with a Mental Health Professional
A lot of people experience emotional pain following a divorce. If you’re experiencing severe depressive symptoms, it may be a good idea to consider working with a qualified mental health professional. Meeting with a counselor or therapist can help you discover ways to effectively work through some of the more difficult emotions that come with the divorce process. In turn, this can help you find success and happiness in other areas of your life.
If you have children, going through therapy during the divorce process can help you be strong for your children. Attending therapy can also help you remain focused on work, maintain a solutions oriented approach to obstacles, and feel in control of your life.
When You’re Struggling
If you are struggling to cope with your divorce, it’s important to remember that no one dies from divorce. Although the emotions that come with divorce can lead people to some very dark places, divorce itself cannot kill you. If you are struggling to cope with the depression and loneliness that come with the divorce, it’s always a good idea to speak with a qualified mental health professional. If you’re feeling like you can’t take much more, don’t hesitate to reach out for help today. Many people go through a depressive period during the divorce but, if you’re going through divorce, you don’t have to go through it alone.
