The Importance of Self-Care During a Divorce

Divorce is one of the most complex and stressful events experienced in life. One must handle all of the legal and financial changes as well as the emotional stress of ending a long-term relationship at the same time. if children are involved , the level of complexity and stress is increased exponentially. I cannot stress enough the importance of self-care during this time. This will allow you to be more focused and better prepared to meet the challenges you will be faced with.

1) Get regular exercise.

2) Spend time with uplifting friends and family.

3) Find an activity that brings you joy and helps you reconnect to the person you were before you were married.

4) Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself and your ex for the past so that you can move forward into the future.

5) Don’t criticize yourself if you feel you are less “with it” than usual. Divorce takes up an enormous amount of mental and emotional energy.

6) Try not to jump into dating right away. It may seem like a nice distraction and a balm to your self-esteem but until your emotions settle down , it will be impossible to have a healthy relationship. The more time you give yourself to heal and the more work you do on yourself now, the more chance you will have to find and keep a healthy relationship.

7) Limit alcohol and comfort food if possible. Short term these things may ease the pain, but cause a whole new set of problems in the long run.

8) Get enough sleep

9) Don’t be afraid to talk to a professional if you feel you need more support in this difficult time

And remember, time takes time. Going through the grief process simply takes time. It is perfectly normal to feel completely shattered for a while. Your entire life is changing, and even positive change can be very stressful. The good news though, is you can come out the other end of your divorce a wiser, stronger, more resilient you. This experience which seems so terrible now, can in the long-run become a great gift. You can choose to use your divorce to become a better version of yourself.