I remember trying to figure out how I was going to ‘survive’ my first deployment. I spent countless hours on google searching for different tips and tricks. Hoping to find recommendations on how to make the time pass quicker, different ways to easy my anxiety!

Today, I thought I would share a few different tips that I learned, that might help you with your deployment.

9 Tips To Adjusting To Your First Deployment:

1. Create a positive support system. Find people who are willing to help you through your deployment. They can be friends or family members, an online coach, fellow military spouses. It doesn’t matter who they are just that they are willing to help you when you need it. I found that having an accountability partner really helped me. There wher
2. Set Goals. Create things that you can work towards while your loved one is deployed.
3. Give yourself grace. Deployment is hard. Adjusting to deployment is hard and it takes a while to adjust to having your loved one gone. There will be good days and there will be bad days. Allow yourself to have your bad days. Forgive yourself and know that it is okay to take things day by day or hour by hour.
4. Plan different adventures and trips. This will give you something to look forward to and will help the time pass quicker. I recommend planning the trips around big dates. For instance, the week of homecoming & the midway point. Travel has been hard with Covid but its the perfect way to get through different your first deployment.
5. Spend time with family & friends. I ended up moving home when my husband deployed, not for the whole time but for a period of time. It was the perfect distraction. I loved being around my family, friends and my families dogs. I have many friends who move home or visit home and friends frequently while their spouse is deployed.
6. Start a new hobby. Try knew things that you haven’t done with your loved one before. Starting new hobbies creates separation. Allows you to do something for your self.
7. Keep a journal. Write down the things that you have accomplished or the memories that you want to share with your loved one when they return.
8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It took me a while to realize that it is okay to ask for help, actually its important to ask for help. Whether you need a friend to bring you pizza, a friend to travel with, someone to babysit the kids so you can go out to dinner or if you just need a friend to talk to.
9. Write letters. When you want to talk to your loved one and can’t I recommend writing them a letter, or an email. Tell them about your day, what you are thinking, what you had for dinner, what your are excited about or struggling with. You can send it to them ore not but it will allow you to talk to them even when they are far away.

Deployment is hard but you will make it through.