Sure the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year for some, but for those who have just been through a breakup, it’s nowhere near as fun. So how do you avoid slipping into grinch mode when you’re heartbroken?
Bookmark these Mend-approved tips so you have them on hand when you start feeling too overwhelmed this holiday season.
Be proactive about doing a digital sweep.
If you’re still following your ex’s friends and family on social media, now is a good time to mute their posts or unfollow. Getting through friendsgiving dinners and holiday work parties is hard enough when you’re heartbroken, you likely don’t want to open Instagram and see photos of your ex at their family gathering.
Figure out which self care practices you’ll use when you need a reset.
In our How To Mend From Heartbreak program, you’ll learn so many power tools to get you through the ups and downs that follow a breakup. Pick a few that you can easily practice anywhere, like a breathwork practice, some mantras that help you feel at peace, or a mindfulness exercise to get back into the present moment. Planning your holiday self-care toolkit will come in clutch when you’re unexpectedly triggered and need a way to self-soothe.
Lean on your people.
The people who love you want to support you, and the holidays are no exception. Be honest with your friends and family about how you’re feeling and the kind of support you’ll need. It can feel easier to isolate yourself when you’re not feeling the holiday cheer, but we need our people. Don’t RSVP to every event if you know it’ll be too much, but be sure to check off a few yeses so you can surround yourself with loved ones.
Plan something that’s just for you.
One of the positive things about being single over the holidays is that you get to decide how you spend your time and with who. No splitting up holidays with different families this year, and we're reframing that as a good thing! So if you have some extra free time, plan a nice holiday gift for yourself. Maybe it’s a day at the spa or a weekend glamping trip, it’s completely up to you how to treat yourself.
Give back to your community.
Giving back to your community helps you see yourself as part of the bigger picture. Use your special skills to support your community. This could look like knitting scarves, hats, and gloves for a local shelter, reviewing resumes for your friends who were recently laid off, or volunteering your time to an organization whose mission resonates with you.
