If you are recently divorced you are not alone. According to the Office for National Statistics 40 per cent of UK marriages end well before ‘till death do us part’, with 44 being the average age for female divorcees.

Knowing you’re in good company doesn’t necessarily make the situation any easier, and life after divorce is often about re-learning how to live your day-to-day life without a partner. 

There are many ‘firsts’ to navigate after a separation or divorce, and one of the most challenging is that first holiday.

In a 2019 study commissioned by Virgin Holidays, 3 in 10 newly divorced respondents said they felt a holiday would help them emotionally process their break up, with 4 in 5 people who went on holiday after their divorce saying it helped. If you are considering a post-divorce holiday, here is a simple guide to help make it a success.

Five tips for that first divorce holiday

1. Start small:

   You may feel your marriage ended in part because of a lack of adventure, but this isn’t the time to push yourself too far out of your comfort zone. Divorce is a taxing process and the aim of this break is to support you to recover mentally and emotionally. Start with a day trip. Book a spa day, or leave your phone at home and head to the beach. Whatever you choose should be relaxing and different from your day to day.

2. Take a friend:

   You don’t have to holiday with someone else, but it might help. Going on holiday alone could compound any feelings of loneliness you may feel after your divorce. It is also a chance to re-cement good friendships. As many as 40 per cent of women say they have lost friends after divorce, often because the process of divorce itself is isolating. If you don’t have any friends who can go away with you, why not try a group singles holiday and meet some new people. 

3. Keep busy:
   Time alone with nothing to do might sound dreamy at first, but structure is your friend. Make a list of things you want to do and order them into your day or weekend. Stay flexible though – just because your schedule says now is time for a bubble bath, if you don’t feel like it you can do something else.

4. Do something new:

   Perhaps you always wanted to learn how to play tennis, or you were keen to do a forest walk but your partner didn’t want to? This is the opportunity to accept invitations for activities that you historically would have turned down,  or take advantage to tick something off your bucket list. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, just give yourself permission to do it your way.

5. Think of the children:
   If you are going away alone with your kids for the first time, make sure you get the other parent’s consent. If you have a different surname to your children and you are travelling abroad, you may need this in writing. It is also worth taking a copy of your children’s birth certificates with you. Once you are on holiday, keep it relaxed. Avoid reflecting on past family holidays and ideally go somewhere brand new. This is an opportunity to cultivate new memories for you and your little family group. 

In the UK, June is Great Outdoors Month, and there’s few things better for the soul than some sunshine, fresh air, and a new perspective. There's never been a better time to get out and get some fresh air.