It doesn’t matter if you’ve been divorced for years or this is your first Valentine’s Day after your divorce. The holiday can sting, sometimes in unexpected ways. Take steps to protect your heart from any unnecessary aches by making plans and being strategic about this particular 24 hours.
1. Join the Crowd
You know February 14 is coming. Don’t ignore the holiday. Face it head on. People in your office will have flowers on their desk, there will be heart decorations in every store and business window. Instead of trying to ignore the pink and red and cupids and avoid a shot to your own heart with every glimpse of Valentine’s Day celebrations, send yourself a bouquet of flowers or buy your own box of chocolate. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. And you deserve it anyway.
2. Avoid Social Media
It’s tempting to fall down the social media rabbit hole any day, but this is one space that can really wreck your psyche on Valentine’s Day. Don’t hop on Instagram or Facebook or your favorite platform – just skip it for a few days until all the flowers and candy and adorableness of couples cycles through your feed.
3. No, Really – Avoid Social Media
If you’re someone who has been known to check up on their ex online, do not do it on Valentine’s Day. Whether you split from each other with love or disgust, being faced with images of him or her – especially if they’re with someone new or still living in your former shared home – will only mire you in sadness and unhappiness and continue to make February 14 feel like one of the darkest days of the year.
4. And While You’re at It, Avoid Dating Apps Too
If you don’t want to wake up on February 15 regretting what you did the night before, then let all your dating apps go dark for one day. You’ll make better decisions about who you want to engage with or meet when you’re past Valentine’s Day and have a clearer head. If you’ve been making knee-jerk decisions lately about dating that aren’t working out so well, this particular holiday could have you regretting your behavior, and that won’t help your mood after your divorce at all.
5. Focus on Your Kids
If you are fortunate enough to have a parenting time plan that has you with your children on Valentine’s Day, then your holiday just got a lot brighter. Focus on your kids and celebrate how much you love them on February 14, whether you make a special meal together, watch a movie, play games, or spoil them with their favorite candy and a little treat.
6. Make a Date with Yourself
What is your favorite thing to do? A satisfying gym session followed by takeout and Netflix binge? Online shopping and snuggling with your pet? Cooking a delicious meal and truly taking time to enjoy it? Whatever you love to do, plan to do it on Valentine’s Day after your divorce without any limitations or second-guessing. You deserve to indulge yourself.
Call Your Divorce Attorney
If you find yourself alone on Valentine’s Day or fighting yet again with your partner, if you have decided that now you are finally ready to file for a Michigan divorce, contact Michigan Divorce Help to schedule your free initial consultation and learn more.