January is one of the most popular months for people to file for divorce. One reason is that they see the turn of the year as an ideal opportunity to schedule a change in their lives. Another is that they had decided on a divorce some time ago but wanted to wait to give their kids one last family Christmas together. Another is that the time they spent with their spouse over the holidays went badly and convinced them they were better off single.
If you have already made up your mind and are just waiting till Christmas is over, you can use the holidays to do some research and prepare for how things will change when you file.
If the divorce was not on your mind before the holidays, ensure that you do not let a difficult week or two get out of perspective.
Many couples find the holidays challenging
While Christmas and New Year are meant to be celebratory times, they can be stressful. The combination of crowds on the road and in stores can be exhausting as you and everyone else desperately try to get what you need.
Partying and alcohol can also leave you tired. You may be attending work dos, catching up for drinks with old school friends or traveling to see family. The late nights, time on the road and higher-than-usual alcohol consumption can take their toll and leave you more exhausted than when you were going to work every day. The same could apply to your spouse, meaning you both end up tired, grumpy and more prone to arguments than usual.
Give yourself a little time before acting if you end the holiday period wanting a divorce but did not enter it thinking about one. Unless it’s a matter of safety, there is no need to rush into a decision you might regret. You can use the cooling-off period to seek help to learn more about what a divorce would mean and how it would work.