Ways to care for yourself after–or in the midst–of a divorce

There’s nothing easy about divorce. It’s stressful and hard, and it’s not something that gets resolved overnight. But even in the midst of this trying time, there are things you can do to help take care of yourself.

Get back to the basics

Eat right. Sleep right. Repeat. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. As much as you’re able to, try to go to bed at the same time each evening, and get up at the same time each morning. While it may be tempting to reach for sugar or salt in the midst of a stressful situation, try the best you can to incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Go run!

Or jump. Or skip or walk or anything really that gets your body moving. Exercise has been known to activate the part of our brains that produce positive hormones and neurotransmitters. If you’re able to exercise outside, even better. Being out in the sunshine–with your sunscreen on, of course–can help with vitamin D intake.

Find something new to focus your energy into

You put a lot of energy into your past relationship. The relationship may no longer be, but you still have all that energy to put into something new. Start a new hobby. Learn to sew. Go kayaking. Join a rock climbing group. You might discover something new to fall in love with.

Find things to be grateful for

Take time to journal or say out loud five things you’re grateful for every day. These don’t have to be big items, even small things such as, “I had a nice chat with the cashier at the grocery store” or “Someone in traffic allowed me to merge and waved at me” are great. Taking time to focus your energy into positives of your life may help in dealing with the negative.

If you are in the midst of a divorce and need any kind of legal counseling, we are always here for you.