How to Handle Being Single Over the Holidays
I realized that most of my adulthood I’ve been in a relationship or marriage every year during the holidays. When that sunk in I immediately thought there are some of you guys who also are single this year and not sure what to do with yourself. Fear not! I’ve got some coping skills for you in today’s post. Being a single doesn’t have to be a downer. You can shop all of the sales and buy gifts for yourself without anyone complaining about the budget. You can decorate your house however you want - bring on all the pastel decor and mini Christmas trees. You also can take as much time for self-care and sleep as you need. Interested in learning a new hobby? Yes please! Now is the time! Being alone can be incredibly growing, positives and much needed after a period of hardship. Give yourself a break over the next few months, grab a cozy cup of hot chocolate and just snuggle up with a good book in front of your tree.
Align Your Priorities & Establish Your Routines
As I began 2020 I set clear boundaries and priorities in my life. It was the single most impactful decision I made and propelled the rest of the year’s choices, habits, routines and actions. Maybe your priorities are with your kids or work. Maybe you are interested in getting your life together or building a business. Maybe it’s your spiritual life that needs some thought and effort. Whatever your priorities are put them on paper and remind yourself everyday. This is an important tactic in maintaining a positive mindset and being single. To be able to maintain life by myself, I have morning, evening, weekly and monthly things that just need to get done. Running a home and having my child depend on me requires simple systems. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be perfect about it and life will sometimes throw you curve balls or hiccups that make completing routines difficult but at the end of the day those routines help stay on track. If you don’t have routines in place now is the time to start! Make a list - post it by your bed, look at it with your priorities daily. A few things I include in my routines - skincare, a bath at night, exercise, writing, housework, paying bills and reading. It’s easier not to forget something when you have a system. Keep it simple though so you are sure to get it done without feeling overwhelmed.
Give to Others
Finding a way to impact others is another element that helps a single person stay connected. Giving time to your family is one thing, but finding ways to get plugged in to helping people outside of your inner circle brings so much joy. Maybe it’s donating or setting up a drive. Maybe you are interested in helping someone get through a tough time and a support group is an excellent way to connect. For me, I help coach women everyday in their beauty businesses. I love that my makeup business also gives me a way to give back through The Younique Foundation. Whatever it is… find your outlet and get connected. Facebook is a fantastic way to get involved in groups where you can start discussions and help others. There’s literally a group for anything and everything!
“If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack.”
Red Lipstick
A swipe of red lipstick helps add glam to any day. This shade of liquid lipstick in a deep red matte flatters almost every skin tone. Velvety, blendable, buildable coverage increases in intensity with more application, yet remains lightweight on lips. Formulated with a luscious cocktail of vitamins C and E. It’s supremely pigmented for extra bold color and has a special precision applicator makes for easy application. Formulated without oil, parabens, alcohol, or fragrance.
Do What Makes You Happy
Confession: I struggle with this sometimes. After constantly worrying about pleasing others throughout the course of my own life I realized doing things that made me happy were a challenge. I’ve been reading Gretchin Rubin’s The Happiness Project and focus daily on doing something that brings me joy. Now is the time more than ever to relish being happy. Yes, there’s a lot of things happening in the world for you to be compassionate about but that doesn’t mean you should stop rejoicing. This season I put together a list of activities that bring me actual joy - painting wooden ornaments, baking gingerbread houses from scratch, taking time to read and a mini vacation. All things that raise my energy levels. So how do you make a happiness list? Sit down and think about what makes you feel more energetic. Then make a bucket list of things you’ve never tried and want to dive into! Start tackling one by one without rushing. Just enjoy the process. I promise it will make a huge difference in your life this season.
Share on Social
You don’t have to be a social media expert to share your daily successes. One of the reasons I find social media a positive environment is being able to share ideas. It’s been a great way to stay connected with loved ones over the course of this year. Share the fun things you’ve done and the things that you are proud of. People get inspired and that makes everyone’s life a little better. I have learned so many things from others on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. From life hacks to finding new sources of spiritual light… social media can be an incredible outlet for joy and connection if you open your heart to it!
At the end of the day remember, this is your life - it’s your responsibility to find joy and peace. No one will truly bring you happiness until you find being content with yourself. If I could give my younger self advice I would tell her two things - Find your purpose and live alone until you know who you are. Alone isn’t a bad thing, in fact it can open doors to bigger things than you could possibly imagine. So go ahead and make your own dreams come true this season.
All of the photos are taken by the beautiful and talented Jaime Waters - you can find her photography here.
