This is my first Christmas break without my kids (they're with their mom this year per the schedule). The house is crazy quiet. Was planning to just work through it but that feels depressing. Anyone do anything cool during their off weeks? Looking for ideas that aren't just drinking and being sad lol.
lol the quiet hits different. My suggestion: plan something for Dec 26th so you have a breakpoint. Doesn't have to be big. Even just "brunch with a friend" gives you something to aim at instead of staring at an empty house for 10 days
I get it man. The quiet is supposed to be relaxing but it's really just lonely. Have you thought about inviting someone over? Doesn't have to be a whole thing, just break up the silence.
The quiet is real but it's also an opportunity. I used my first solo holiday to deep clean the garage and honestly it felt good to have something to show for the time. Plus kept my hands busy so my brain wasn't doing laps.
Have you talked to your ex about maybe shifting one day earlier so you get them for Christmas morning or something? Not saying abandon the schedule but holidays hit different when they're gone.
This is when I lean hard on my friends. Holiday break without the kids is when I do the stuff I can't do with them—go out late, watch R-rated movies, stay up gaming. Makes it feel like a choice instead of a loss.
This is rough but also could be an opportunity? I know that sounds cliché but genuinely - do ONE thing you never get to do. For me it was just sitting in silence with coffee for 3 hours. Sounds sad written out but it was actually restorative.
First one is always the hardest. Don't just work through it—that's what depression wants you to do. Even just taking yourself out somewhere, movie, hike, whatever beats sitting in a quiet house spiraling.
First one is always the hardest. Skip the work thing - your brain will just spiral. Make a list of stuff you actually want to do, even dumb stuff. I did a 48hr gaming binge my first solo Christmas and felt way better than if I'd tried to "be productive"
What about volunteering? Local shelter or food bank probably needs help over the holidays and at least you'd be around people. Might beat the depressing work-from-home spiral.
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lol i felt this in my soul. My suggestion: plan something NOW before the break actually hits. Dinner reservation, trip to see a friend, literally anything on the calendar so you're not staring at four walls.