Going through a divorce is perhaps the most stressful thing you will deal with (except, perhaps, for the death of a loved one). The stress of the loss of the marriage, and the end of a life in which you had invested your hopes and dreams can be devastating. Taking good care of yourself is the best way to guard against the pressure and the chaos of separation and divorce.
What we hear you asking as you read this is, “Who has time for self-care? I barely have time to tie my shoes these days!” But making time for yourself is important. While taking the time for self-care will not dial down the level of conflict in the divorce, you will at least feel better equipped to handle it.
These 10 self-care tips might be something you want to try. You may end up adopting a new practice for yourself that stays with you even after the divorce is final and brings you contentment and peace.
1. Eat healthy food
Indulging in comfort foods may soothe your jangled nerves in the moment, but making healthy food choices will give you more energy and keep your immune system strong enough to handle the stress of divorce.
2. Exercise
Moving your body creates natural endorphins which are nature’s feel-good hormones that can break you out of an emotional rut. Maintaining a daily exercise regimen will help you sleep better, maintain a healthy weight and contribute to your overall physical and mental health and stamina.
3. Get good sleep
Ah, sleep! Getting good sleep is often easier said than done, but getting adequate sleep is vital to your ability to handle the normal stresses of life, let alone the additional stress and anxiety that comes with divorce. If you are having problems getting enough sleep, talk to your doctor about what you can do to improve the quantity and quality of your sleep.
4. Gather your supporters
It takes a village. In the same way that you gather all your friends and loved ones to celebrate the good times, when you are going through a difficult time you want to gather your true friends and close family to help support you emotionally as well as in practical ways.
5. Care for your emotional health, too
Going through a divorce can make you feel like an emotional train wreck. Give yourself the opportunity to express the powerful emotions that divorce can bring out. Trying to repress feelings usually backfires at inconvenient times, so feel what you are feeling and remind yourself that life will get better.
6. Try stress-relief practices such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, or journaling
These stress-relieving practices can have countless mental and physical health benefits; they can make you feel more relaxed and better prepared to face what is happening in your life.
7. Find a creative outlet
It might sound trite to hear that you should get a hobby, but finding a creative activity is a great diversion from the stress and angst of divorce. This might be the time to join that art or cooking class you’ve been eyeing, or to take up knitting or painting.
8. Work with the best divorce lawyer for you
An experienced, aggressive Annapolis divorce attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your divorce. You want someone who knows what they are doing, who will stand up for you when you feel vulnerable, and make sure that you walk away from your divorce feeling like you got the best results possible.
9. Take the lessons from this experience as you move on with your life
When the divorce is final, look at the whole experience, at how you might have contributed to the end of your marriage and take whatever wisdom you can into your new life. People make mistakes because that is part of being human. How you bounce back from your mistakes will define your life.
10. Ask for help
Never be afraid to ask for help. You might not feel strong enough to handle what is happening. There is no shame in asking for the help you need to get through your divorce.
Taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to be cared for by loved ones is a vital part of healing and gathering your strength to take on the challenges of your life. It is also a strong reminder that you possess everything you need to take on whatever life throws at you. Carrying these self-care practices forward into your daily or weekly routines after the divorce is over can help increase the amount of joy you can squeeze out of life. If you have children, taking excellent care of yourself gives you the opportunity to model for them what it can look like to move through a stressful situation and emerge with your strength and sanity intact.
Our experienced team of Annapolis divorce lawyers at Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC, can protect your rights and make sure that your interests are represented. You are invited to give us a call at 410.921.2422 or fill out our contact form and schedule a consultation, where you can discuss your divorce case, ask questions and receive legal guidance from an attorney you can trust.
