The Independence Day holiday has arrived and you are independent. For our international visitors who are not celebrating this holiday, please apply these concepts to any time of year when there is an extended weekend holiday – it can be difficult.
There is general excitement in the workplace leading up to the long weekend. In most traditional offices, the work stops around Tuesday afternoon even though time off doesn’t officially start until Thursday or Friday. While everyone is a buzz with weekend plans, you may be dreading all that time alone. This time of year can evoke thoughts of holidays past with your ex. Although your feelings are natural, you are not going to let the loneliness defeat you. You are going to overcome this adversity. This Independence Day you are going to celebrate your Independence!
Try some of these techniques –
1. Friend/Family BBQ - These are good time suckers and usually offer a variety of guilt-free-because-it’s-a-holiday junk food. One note about the family gatherings- while these congregations are great distractions, watch out for cousin insensitivo who wants to inquire about your singlehood. “How’s that going for you?” they might ask (as if it is a disease as opposed to a state of being.) Please have a prepared answer for this senseless being. “Freedom has its upside. I ate dinner in bed yesterday and watched sports center for 4 hours straight.”
2. Spoil Yourself – Not like a bag of chips. No, really spoil yourself. Try a few hours in a spa or the golf course. Do anything that you find enjoyable. If nothing seems fun anymore, dig back to the last thing you did enjoy on your own. Do it. At least, try it!
3. Call Someone – In lieu of being able to make it out with friends or family, call someone. Have a long conversation on the phone. Ask them about their life, talk about current events, about Michael Jackson, about anything that is a bit light. Give yourself a break from heartbreak.
4. Go Help People that Need Help – There are many people less fortunate than all of us. Holidays are hard for them and you can help someone else, as well as yourself, by volunteering. Volunteer at a food bank, soup kitchen, or anywhere that needs assistance. If you can’t find a place to volunteer, gather some old clothes and take them to goodwill. It will make you feel good.
5. Watch the Fireworks – Let yourself feel that childlike wonder and awe at the fireworks. If you have kids, take them to a show and watch how something simple brings joy to their life.
Other ideas to get thru the long weekend? Provide us your comments.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I go to the movies cuz there are tons of people that go in groups and on their own…this is my favorite distraction. I also go to the bookstore. This sounds a little strange, but the cafes in borders and barnes & noble are packed with people reading and just hanging out.
drive, just drive. blast the music, roll the windows down and clear your head.