Divorce is stressful and difficult, even under the best of circumstances. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the process, and even by the aftermath once the proceedings are done. Following these tips can make divorce a bit easier.
Acknowledge and accept your feelings
It’s understandable to have a lot of different emotions about your divorce. Many of them are negative: fear, anxiety, stress and anger. Some could be positive, though, like hopefulness for the future and the possibilities opened by the next chapter in your life. Whatever you are feeling, allow yourself to feel it. You need to process these emotions in a healthy way in order to move on.
Go easy on yourself
This is a difficult time. Accept that. Your productivity might temporarily go down at work. Your house might not be as clean as you’re accustomed to. You might go a day or two without washing your hair. All of these things are acceptable. You need to take it easy on yourself for a while. Don’t expect perfection of yourself during this stressful time.
Seek comfort in others
Reach out to loved ones, family and friends for support. You need an outlet for your feelings, and you need encouragement. Sometimes just hearing someone else say that things are going to be OK is enough to make you believe it.
Practice self-care
The temptation is real during hard times to let our self-care fall by the wayside. It’s important to not give in to that temptation. We can’t take care of others if we don’t take care of ourselves. If you have children, then self-care is vital during a divorce. Eating well, exercising and resting are all crucial components of caring for yourself.
Try to remain positive
It’s easy during a divorce to get bogged down in negative thoughts and emotions. Try hard to focus on the positive aspects of divorce. Have you always wanted to pursue a hobby that your spouse wasn’t interested in? Now’s the perfect time to do that. Wanted a new hairstyle that your spouse wouldn’t like? It’s a great time to do that, too. Yes, there are negative aspects to a divorce and to the transition from married life to single life, but there are positive ones as well.
