Other than birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day, this is the time of year you might be most tempted to text your ex. Everything that comes with the holidays–matching pajamas, engagement announcements, and family gatherings–has a way of making you look back on your relationship with rose-colored lenses, longing for the good moments, and before you know it, you’re typing a text to your ex.
If you’re in the middle of a no contact period and have made progress on your mending journey, reconnecting with your ex could be a setback. If you know deep down that talking to your ex right now will cause you more heartache, then try to redirect that energy elsewhere. Here are a few ideas for what you can do this holiday season instead of texting your ex:
- Host a Holiday Potluck: Have everyone bring their favorite dish and share laughter and good food while creating new holiday memories with those you love.
- Volunteer for a Local Charity: Spread holiday cheer by giving back to your community. Many organizations appreciate extra hands during this time of year.
- Try a New Recipe: Experiment with holiday-themed dishes or bake some delicious treats. The kitchen can be a therapeutic space for creativity.
- Take a Winter Hike or Nature Walk: Bundle up and connect with nature. Enjoying the crisp winter air is a refreshing way to clear your mind and boost your mood.
- Attend a Holiday Workshop or Craft Fair: Explore your creative side by joining a festive workshop or shopping at a local craft fair. You might discover a new hobby or find unique gifts for some people on your list.
- Take a Weekend Getaway: Plan a short trip to a nearby town or city. Exploring new places can be a fun distraction and a way to create new positive memories.
- Join a Fitness Class: Combat holiday stress by getting a good sweat. Whether it's yoga, spin class, or a dance workout, endorphins are your friends.
- Create a Vision Board for the New Year: Focus on your goals and aspirations. Cut out pictures and phrases that represent the life you want to create for yourself in the coming year. You could also do the Pie Of Life exercise inside our heartbreak course.
- Host a Game Night: Invite friends over for board games or card games. It's a lighthearted way to enjoy each other's company and forget about that urge to text an ex.
- Attend a Live Performance: Check out local theater productions, concerts, or dance performances. Immerse yourself in your local arts scene, you might uncover a new passion.
- Learn a New Skill Online: Use online platforms to pick up a new skill or hobby, like coding, creating art on your iPad, learning a new language, or playing a musical instrument.
- Create a DIY Holiday Decor Project: Make your space festive with handmade decorations. It's a productive and creative outlet for the holiday season. You can find tons of DIY tutorials on YouTube, like this one on how to make velvet ornaments.
- Start a Book Club or Join One: Reading can be a wonderful escape. Choose a book that’s been on your TBR list and ask friends to join your book club. You could also search for existing book clubs if you’re not interested in starting your own.
- Create a Holiday Playlist: Curate a playlist of your favorite holiday tunes. Music has a powerful impact on emotions, and curating your own playlist can be a good way to tap into holiday cheer when you need it most.
- Write Letters to Loved Ones: Instead of reaching out to an ex, express your feelings in letters to friends or family. Share your gratitude and love with them. It’ll not only feel good for you, but it’ll also put smiles on their faces.
The holidays can bring up a lot of uncomfortable feelings, so remember to offer yourself a little extra grace during this time of the year. And if the urge to text your ex comes up, choose instead to do things that will contribute to your well-being. Got through this whole list? You can find more suggestions for things to do instead of texting your ex at dothisinstead.co.
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