Divorce Monday Wasn’t How You Wanted to Start 2026
It’s just another divorce Monday. (To the tune of “Manic Monday”, a 1986 hit song by The Bangles, and a band worth a wormhole dive any day of the week.)
So, it’s January 2026, and a divorce isn’t the way you’d hoped to start this new year.
Divorce filings go up approximately 20-30% in the early months of the year. The first working Monday of the year, earning the term “Divorce Monday” as if it were a holiday we’d celebrate. After all the Christmas celebrations and New Year tidings, it feels more like a blow than a celebration. The undercurrent of stress may have even dampened your holiday spirits.
So, why is there a January divorce spike? How can you keep it from ruining your whole year? You, your 2026, and your changing family dynamic all deserve a peace worth fighting for. Let’s turn resolutions into peace-building action.
What Is Divorce Monday?
The term “Divorce Monday” first began appearing in the UK in the mid-2010s from family law firms noting the trend. The trend follows in the U.S. each year with about a third increase in divorce filings.
There are actually two divorce spikes each year, in January and again in August. Domestic calendars (after the holidays, after the summer) likely explain this. Families try to eke out a stable and happy season before the difficulties of the divorce become real. Like a last hurrah before things get tough.
Divorce Monday Stats
While finding data on these trends is a bit hop-skippity, there are some trends here to note. Some of it is clear in Google search trends, where "divorce lawyer" queries spike. They go up nearly 50% in that first week of January.
Legal inquiries also rise about 30% this time of year.
You start seeing articles about “Divorce Day” and such.
Forbes reported that children of divorcing parents after the holidays experience higher rates of depression.
Why Do So Many People Get Divorced After the Holidays?
So, the big question is why is there a January divorce spike? More personally, why is this happening to you?
Since so many people go through similar things this time of year, there must be a reason why that your heart can cling to. Some explanation for what went so wrong that this is how you’re starting the year. It makes sense to look for answers, especially when a pending divorce, or even filing for divorce, is such a big step.
Top Reasons for Divorce Day Spike
Since data is thin on the subject, we can only speculate as to why. Note reports gathered at law firms or read articles by divorce and family psychology experts. But if you want to get at the heart of the matter, often therein are some sad truths.
Like the “holiday spirit” haze. When there’s an undercurrent of pain, we sometimes smooth it over with a bit of holiday bliss. We hope to rekindle things, maybe smooth over some old wounds with mistletoe, pecan pie, and forced cheer. But once the bows are off and the wrapping paper gathered, the truth resurfaces as the holiday passes.
Then, New Years hits like a clarity slap in the face. The year ahead, you realize, will be very different.
Other factors also contribute:
Family tensions rise
Busy December schedules
Financial tension mounts
Prioritizing the kids’ holiday season
Conflict or failed expectations seal the decision.
New Years ushers in a season of change.
Starting 2026 with Divorce on the Horizon
Full disclosure. This author fully admits to an unhealthy amount of excitement about the New Year 2026. In fact, New Years is my favorite holiday, full stop. Better than Christmas stockings, Thanksgiving turkeys, or even – gasp – 4th of July barbeques. Because the New Year has one purpose: it’s a reset button.
Just like that, you can snap your fingers, make a list, and set out into a new year, new you.
With divorce looming, though, you may not feel that peppy about the turn into 2026. But even if you don’t feel very celebratory, you can still reflect on what’s going right in your life. And what needs to change in order for you to get through a tough season in your life.
So, take a deep breath. Clear your mind of the stress, and the pain for just a moment. Feel where the tension and guilt are residing in your chest, your heart, your temples, your gut. And just breathe a bit of energy there. Because you deserve the whole new year, new you thing. And it can start with these resolutions made just for you.
2026 Resolutions for Facing Divorce
Find a divorce support group.
Seek spiritual guidance for finding peace in turmoil.
Begin a journal for self-discovery and handling stressful situations.
Learn to date yourself. Make it a regular thing!
Take that trip, learn that hobby, do that thing you’ve always wanted to do.
Practice radical self-compassion rituals each day. Be your own best support!
Drink more water & walk more steps.
Examine your new finances and make some financial goals for your year.
Make friends that are not connected to your marital bond.
Make a date with a book.
Spend some time outdoors.
Set and begin upholding boundaries that protect your peace.
Speaking of peace, look for moments that feel peaceful to you. Learn to sit comfortably in those moments.
Journal Prompts for Divorce Healing
What patterns contributed to conflict? Where can you grow in your communication style, beliefs, and behaviors?
In what ways can you show up more fully as a parent, friend, or family member?
What memories need healing? What words of peace and reconciliation can you speak to process the lingering emotions?
What does peace and harmony feel like in your home? How can you honor the emotions of the divorce (for all involved) while sustaining a stable home?
You’ve faced the hard part, accepting the new trajectory of your year. Now it’s time to hit that reset button. Divorce Monday 2026 may be claiming another casualty, but one breath, one boundary, one peaceful moment at a time can help you to stay strong. Grab that journal and prioritize your forward momentum – you’ve got this.
This article is brought to you by Alimonia Life Blog.
See Lessons on the Way to Onesome for further guidance on post-divorce healing and growth.
Christina M. Ward