The New Year can be a hard holiday to spend alone after a breakup. If you find yourself anxious and sad, just know that you are not alone and that it won't always feel that way. With everyone staying home this year, it's going to be a particularly difficult one for many. But the silver lining is that there's less pressure to plan anything at all, which is one of the most stressful parts of this holiday for people who are struggling through a difficult moment.
Here are a few strategies to get you through New Year's:
Spend some time reflecting on this year.
New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be all about parties, and it won't be this year due to the pandemic; it can instead represent taking some quiet, uninterrupted time to look back on the year and see how far you’ve come, what you would like to change, and what parts of your life you want to fulfill. This may be different if you were planning on being with your S.O. but sometimes different is okay (and even better!) because there's less pressure.
Make virtual plans
Just because you don’t have a romantic partner doesn’t mean that you have nothing to do. Reach out to family or friends (especially the single ones) and join the virtual celebrations with people you love. Sometimes you just have to remind those around you that you need their support - they may not know that you are feeling lonely. Plan ahead and get some of your favorite treats for a night in. Watch movies, read, treat yourself to some pampering, and set intentions for the new year. Organize a video call for single friends if you want, or just enjoy the quiet time alone. The important thing is to make sure you have planned ahead so that it doesn't sneak up on you.
Shift your perspective.
Remember, New Year’s Eve is just one night. Even though there are a lot of expectations wrapped up into it, at the end of the day, it is just a regular day for everyone. Although it may be painful, you're now free of a relationship that wasn’t working. That's something to celebrate. Let yourself feel sad if that's what you're feeling, but also try to focus on gratitude and think about all the incredible people who were in your life this year that you could count on no matter what.
