How to get through a holiday breakup

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” until you go through a breakup in the middle of the holidays. Breakups suck in general, if we’re keeping it real. But something about the holidays, with its mistletoe sprigs and winter rom-coms, can make losing love feel worse. Not only do you have to deal with private heartbreak, but there’s the public awkwardness of explaining why you’re minus your plus one.

No matter the circumstances of your breakup, you can make it through the holidays. Here are our tips to get through a holiday breakup without crying in your eggnog.

Resist the urge to check your ex’s socials

As tempting as it might be, checking your ex’s social media profiles to see if they brought someone home for the holidays is not a good look. Sometimes it’s more helpful to look forward rather than making sure your former partner hasn’t moved on too quickly.

Don’t feel pressured to date again

Society puts so much pressure on us not to be single. But it’s totally okay if you take time to heal from your breakup. The loss of a relationship is a legitimate reason to grieve. You don’t have to dive back into the dating pool right away or at all if you don’t want to. Also, feel free to set boundaries with friends and family members who don’t respect your newly single status.

Binge-watch revenge movies instead of romantic comedies

Holiday romances are a no-go? No problem. Revenge is a dish best served cold during the holidays, and there are plenty of revenge flicks to satisfy your itch to see bad guys get what they deserve. Or you could join the classic debate about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Watching Bruce Willis blow stuff up is a great alternative to lovey dovey happy endings.

Shower yourself with gifts

One small silver lining about breakups during the holidays is returning all the gifts you bought your ex and spending the money on yourself instead. Double the presents, baby!

Make new traditions…or comfort yourself with old ones

Sometimes, the holidays can be hard after a breakup because of the traditions you made with your ex. One way to approach this is to flip the script. Throw out all the holiday rituals that remind you of your past partner and make new ones. If there’s a winter activity you always wanted to do that your ex wasn’t into, go for it. Make the holiday fully yours.

The other way to approach holiday traditions is to flip the bird at your ex and keep the customs that bring you comfort. Whatever you choose, you deserve joy.

Skip the holidays altogether

Listen, we get it. If there’s a block of ice where your heart used to be, you’re not going to feel like roasting chestnuts on an open fire. The cheery holidays can be difficult to stomach if you’re going through a tough time. It’s another kind of unnecessary pressure. So, skip it. There’s no rule that says you must participate in the holiday season if you don’t want to. And if you never put up decorations, you don’t have to take them down. So there.

Just take things one day at a time. The good news is that the holidays don’t last forever, but you will always be your own best gift.