It might seem cruel, but statistically a lot of couples break up around Valentine’s day. 

We tend to see a rise in break-ups around the holidays because they often push couples to pause and ponder the state of their relationships. If one or both partners has been feeling unhappy or uncertain within a couple, it makes it that much harder to tolerate times of the year that celebrate our ideas and ideals around love.

If you're in a relationship, Valentine’s day, it can be an opportunity to celebrate your love and reflect on how thankful you are for your partner. But for unhappy couples, V-Day can force you to reflect on how things might not be working — and it might even lead to a breakup. 

However, this holiday can be especially hard if you’re going through a divorce or newly separated.

These tips should help:

Show yourself some love
The relationship which affects all other relationships you form is the one you have with yourself. That bond was probably neglected while you’ve been focusing on the declining relationship with your spouse. Show yourself some love this Valentine’s by looking after you: so why not try a new class or have a spa day?

Celebrate the different types of Love in your life
Romantic love isn’t the only kind of love you can celebrate this February. Consider arranging a dinner or even a holiday with friends or making the effort to visit a family member who you don’t see as often as you like. If you have children, this can be the perfect opportunity to plan a fun activity which helps you feel closer to them. 

Practical Steps
Focus on the practical steps required to move your divorce along so you can finally start afresh and find a new dream. 

Now could be a good time to start gathering the materials for financial disclosure, for example. Focusing on the more cognitive aspects of your divorce will prevent you reliving the trauma or difficulties associated with the relationship.

It can be difficult to accept that your relationship is over. But ultimately, if something isn’t working and can’t be fixed, it’s better to end the relationship rather than wasting everyone’s time and dragging it out.