Post divorce, many of us find ourselves home alone for the first time in years. What do you do when the kids are at their other parent’s for the weekend and you just don’t feel like leaving the house? Instead of letting loneliness sink in, here are some productive things you can do to make the time go by.
1) Catch up With Old Friends.
Stop endlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram! Pick up the phone to have an actual conversation with an old friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while. Reminisce, laugh, vent, catch up, and make plans for your next get together.
2) Research Ways to Find New Friends.
Brainstorm ways to meet new people. Search through local newspapers to find events where you can meet others with similar interests. Do an online search for divorce support groups, meet-up groups, parenting groups, faith-based groups or any other group that matches your interests– perhaps a book club, a writer’s workshop, a wine tasting event, a runners’ group. Visit your community college’s website as well as your local library’s website for other classes and events you may want to attend. Now you will have a plan in place for when you are ready to venture out.
3) Plan Your Future.
Take this alone time to focus on yourself and what you want to accomplish. Set some realistic goals of things you need to get done this week, this month, this year. Your next step is devising a step-by-step action plan for achieving your goals. Don’t overwhelm yourself, tackle only what you think you can handle at this time.
4) Complete a House Project.
A leaky kitchen faucet? An old dining room table that needs refurbishing? Outdated wallpaper in your bathroom? Check out Youtube for do-it-yourself tutorials for house projects big and small. This may keep you busy for hours, days or weeks. And you’ll really enjoy showing off the finished project.
5) Organize Your Closet.
Take an inventory of your wardrobe. Sort through your clothes and get rid of items you no longer wear. Re-organize your closet in a way that makes the most sense for you. You can separate items based on season, colors, frequency of wear, or function (work, casual, formal). Pick out some “go to” outfits that make you feel and look your best and keep them front and center.
Being productive during your alone time, will replace loneliness with a sense of accomplishment and pride. You’ve got this!