The holidays can be a difficult time for people who are going through divorce or are newly divorced. Being proactive and planning for the holiday season can help you and your family cope. Here are some tips to make the holidays more enjoyable:

1. Take a positive approach. Try to recapture some of the joy you experienced as a child during the holidays.

2. Start planning now. Communicating and negotiating with your ex can help ease the stress of holiday planning so you don’t have to wait till the last minute.

3. Change your expectations. This year the holidays will be different, so why not take the time to do something that you’ve wanted to do.

4. Create new traditions. The holiday season is full of sentiment and traditions, so why not create your own!

5. Make gift giving more pleasurable. A good gift to your family and your ex could be the gift of good will. Agree to get along even if it is only for the holidays.

6. Relieve stress with diet and exercise. Exercise can help with mental health and take your mind off of your divorce.

7. Be proactive. Try getting out of the house to help members of the community and your family.

John M. D’Arco, Partner

For more information on Mr. D’Arco, please visit: www.beermannlaw.com/team/john-m-darco.