By: Amelia Elkins, LCSW, CAS
Going through a separation during the holidays is challenging. With constant reminders of love, family, and connection, it’s no wonder this is a triggering time. The holidays can also create more stress in general due to family demands, work demands, and busy schedules leaving no time for grieving or healing. Here are five tips to support yourself during a separation.
Tips for Dealing with a Breakup During the Holidays
- Reset your Relationship with Yourself: After a breakup, it’s easy to fall into a loneliness pit of sadness and struggle to recreate an independent life. Taking time to reconnect with yourself by practicing self-care, hobbies, and connecting with friends is a great way to recharge. More concrete ideas here: https://thrivecounselingdenver.com/uncategorized/7-categories-to-include-in-your-self-care-plan/
- Create Structure: Breakups are a great time to get into concrete routines to best serve physical and mental health. Getting up at the same time, going to bed at the same time, and eating consistent healthy meals can keep emotions supported. A morning routine may look like having coffee, reading for 15 minutes, or stretching. What practices can happen in the morning and evening to develop structure?
- Start a Meditation Routine: Taking even ten minutes a day to recognize and sit with grieving emotions is so beneficial to healing during a breakup. The emotions are going to come up and show up whether we like it or not so creating a designated space can be helpful. More on this and two meditation exercises here: https://heatherstang.com/get-over-a-breakup-meditation/
- Silver Linings: Relationships come to an end for a reason. Something wasn’t working, something happened, or something just didn’t happen. One subject I really encourage my clients to focus on during a breakup is silver linings. What are the lessons learned from this relationship? Could there be some slight positives to the relationship ending? Did this need to happen to find something healthier in the future? Taking space to journal and reflect on the relationship is key to moving forward.
- Seeking Professional Support: Lastly, getting support from a licensed professional may be beneficial if the breakup is impacting your ability to function. All breakups are hard and sitting in a safe, non-judgmental space to process the relationship with a therapist could not only be helpful but provide insight, reflections, and tools to move forward.