5 Ways to Look After Yourself During a Divorce

It’s no secret that going through a divorce is likely to be one of the most stressful events in your life. Even when you have a relatively cooperative and confrontation-free relationship with your ex-spouse, divorce can still be an extremely difficult experience.

That’s why it’s really important to make sure you look after yourself during the process. You don’t need to consistently put on a brave face – your life has changed immeasurably and it’s perfectly natural to go through a process of grieving for the relationship, and the life, that you have left behind.

To make sure you get through what is undoubtedly going to be a stressful time, we’ve put together a few tips to ensure you have all the tools you need to weather the storm.

1. Accept and experience your emotions

There are no short-cuts to getting over the plethora of confusing emotions that inevitably go hand in hand with the separation and divorce process. Sweeping them under the rug or refusing to acknowledge your pain will, more often than not, backfire in the long run.  Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Accept that they are painful. Cry if you need to. Vent your anger to your friends and family. Express your relief. And remember, there’s no right or wrong way to feel.

2. Prioritise self-care

If we could give you just one piece of advice on how to look after yourself during a divorce, it would be to prioritise and practice self-care. If there’s ever a time to be kind to yourself, it’s now. Make time to do the things you really enjoy, and rediscover things you used to enjoy. Treat yourself to that massage, enjoy long bubble baths, visit your favourite restaurant. Taking time to do the things that make you feel happy and relaxed will go a long way in minimising your stress. Obviously, during lockdown, these things need to be things you can do at home, like turning your bathroom into your own spa or reading a good book, watching a classic movie or cooking your favourite meal.

3. Look after your physical health

It’s easy to neglect your physical health when you’re going through a divorce, but taking time to look after it can make all the difference. Emotional pain can rob you of sleep, the desire to eat, and the motivation to exercise. Try to make a conscious effort to eat well, take time to go out for a walk in nature or set up an exercise routine at home, and ensure you give your body and mind the time it needs to rest and recuperate.

4. Call on your support network

You may feel a huge sense of loss during and after the breakdown of your marriage. Now is the time to lean on the one’s you love and that love you too – your family and friends. Hopefully they will be a great source of comfort to you, providing plenty of emotional support and advice to help you through this. Try not to be too wary of burdening people with your problems – these people care about you and will want to be there for you.  

5. Look to the future

The process of separation and divorce can involve a lot of thinking about the past; what might have been, and what you could have done differently. That’s natural and perfectly normal, and it will take some time to move through the grieving process and start to think about rebuilding your life. But the future is right in front of you, and allowing yourself to consider what you want to do with it is a great way to recapture some excitement for the next chapter of your life. 

Here at Vines Legal, we’re experts in helping our clients through the process of separation and divorce. If you are considering a separation, or going through a divorce, please do contact us on 01246 555610 for a free initial consultation.