Navigating Your First Christmas After You Separate

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Navigating Your First Christmas After You Separate

Christmas can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Don’t imagine everyone else is having a great time- they probably aren’t!

It is an emotive time whether you’re separating or not. The pressure to have the perfect ‘Hallmark’ Christmas can make the run up pretty stressful for everyone! And normal life stresses don’t stop on Christmas Day; in fact if you’re not careful the added pressure of the festive period can exacerbate stress rather than alleviate it.

So first, and foremost, be kind to yourself and those around you, and pre-empt emotions as much as you can by making a plan. Lean into any positives, and distract yourself where possible. Assess what really matters this Christmas, and what is causing you stress. You will feel emotional, that’s normal. You may also feel relief, if this is your first Christmas apart. That may also prompt guilt.

If you have children, you will also be navigating their emotions. Try to predict what you’re going to find hard, and make a plan to alleviate that. Are there new traditions you can embrace this year? If you’re worried about being alone, can you make a plan with some friends? If travel is an option for you, that can be a brilliant source of distraction.

But overall please do recognise that life transitions can be hard, so be easy on yourself and take any opportunities for joy when they come your way.

And recognise that next year could well be your best year yet, who knows what is awaiting you.

If you have more questions about this topic or any other legal issues arising on divorce or separation, please do get in touch as we are always happy to help. You can call us on 0203 488 4475 or email contact@thedivorcesurgery.co.uk.