3 Ways To Reclaim Valentine’s Day After Divorce

It’s that time of year again, the day the whole world celebrates love. With all of the focus being put towards having the most romantic day ever, this day can often feel painful to those who have recently gone through divorce. But it doesn’t have to be! All of the cards and balloons in the world will tell you that Valentine’s Day is about spending time with a significant other. Who says you have to follow the rules? There are plenty of other people in your life who you can celebrate. Here are three ways that you can reclaim Valentine’s Day for yourself after divorce:

  1. Spend the evening sharing one of your favorite recipes or an old family recipe with your children. Let them pitch in and show them how it’s done! Put on some of your favorite tunes and share that special magic of cooking a meal from scratch with them. Bonus: they will learn the importance of cooking homemade meals!
  2. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday, meaning most of us have to work on Friday. If you’re feeling like you just want to spend your evening in relaxing, this is a great evening to treat yourself. Grab your favorite dessert or treat, curl up on the couch and watch one of your favorite movies. Spend some time enjoying your own company!
  3. Friends are one of the most important support systems, especially when you are dealing with divorce. If Valentine’s Day has you feeling down, try reaching out to your friends and seeing if any of them are also looking for something to do. Organizing an evening of fun is a great way to take your mind off of things and to share some laughter with that support system.

Enjoy Your Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and for those who are recently divorced this can be an unwelcome holiday that feels like it only serves as a reminder of your divorce. Divorce is already hard enough as it is without a holiday that seems to rub salt on the wound. It would be easy enough to decide you just want a night in with you, Ben & Jerry’s but before you shut yourself in and completely fall down the rabbit hole, try these few suggestions to save the holiday for yourself.

One way to overcome sadness and stress is to exercise. Why not actually start that workout regimen you promised yourself you would begin on January 1st? Exercise is scientifically proven to reduce stress and help with depression. It is also a good way to take care of yourself. So instead of curling up on the couch in defeat, get out there and go for a run.

Another great way to spend the evening is to invite some of your closest friends out for a friends’ dinner. Choose a restaurant that takes reservations and make sure to reserve a table large enough for your group. Don’t get caught up trying to book a table at the “trendiest” spot downtown. Instead, opt for a favorite where you know it will be good and enjoy the company of your close friends.

Finally, if you really want to go it alone and spend the night in, treat yourself! Ahead of the evening, go and buy the ingredients for your favorite recipe. Spend the time cooking a delicious meal for yourself and watching a favorite movie or settling in with a book you’ve been meaning to read.

The most important thing to remember about Valentine’s Day is that it is meant to be a holiday to spend with loved ones. This doesn’t mean it has to be a significant other, that love can extend to your friends and family as well.