Love is in the air! When you walk down the street, you see couples everywhere. Everyone seems to be lucky in love. You may begin to feel like you will be alone forever. It can be easy to sink into despair when you begin to associate your level of happiness with your relationship status. Being single, especially during the holidays, can be painful, but it doesn’t have to bring you down.  According to a CNN article, a few remedies for the single gal or guy on this holiday include:

• Doing something interesting and exciting for yourself- Sometimes we believe that we can’t live fully until we have another person by our side. Start to challenge that misconception and plan an adventure!  Now is the time to pick up that new hobby that you have wanted to try. When you try new things, you begin to embrace life wholly.
• Planning a dinner party with friends- Socializing with friends reminds us that we are not alone. According to CNN, “A study by a group of researchers at Brigham Young Hospital said that having a ‘rich network’ of intimate relationships (friends and family) was more predictive of mental and physical health than whether the person struggled with alcoholism, smoking or major diseases.”
• Lace up your shoes and get outdoors- Vitamin D is a major benefit to getting outside and enjoying the sunshine. Vitamin D has been linked to prevention of autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and much more.  It also has positive impacts on your mental health. “Spending time in nature has been linked to improved attention spans (short and long term), boosts in serotonin (the feel-good neurotransmitter) and shows increased activity in the parts of the brain responsible for empathy, emotional stability, and love.”
• Giving back- Giving back allows us to make other social connections. We can get outside of our sadness for a little bit and see the world from a different perspective. Over the years, research has indicated that giving back makes us happier people.

Even though this time may be tough for you, consider trying out a couple of these suggestions. You may find a new perspective of life, a new friend, or a new hobby that you really enjoy! Use this day to live life more wholeheartedly and you may find a happier you.

Chelsey Beauchamp, MS
cbeauchamp@growcounseling.com