Healing And Growth: 5 Self-Care Suggestions For Moving Forward After Divorce

Healing and personal growth are integral parts of moving forward after a divorce, making for a period of profound transformation and a renewed sense of self. Although they’re not legal advice, strictly speaking, I’ll break down five practical self-care suggestions I’ve gathered over the years of helping clients so you can effectively navigate this emotional journey.

Exercise

You might be scratching your head at this point, but hear me out. Exercise is an excellent stress reliever. It releases endorphins, which help improve mood and reduce anxiety.

If you haven’t been exercising, start now. This could be a home routine, joining a gym, or hiring a personal trainer for motivation. No matter where you do it, the important thing is to start. Finding an activity you enjoy, whether it’s running, yoga, cycling, or any other form of physical activity, will help you stick with it.

Get Good Sleep

Proper sleep is foundational to good mental and physical health. A lack of sleep will exacerbate stress and affect your overall well-being. Here are some tips to get better sleep:

• Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows that support your sleep position.
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine, such as reading, meditating, or taking a warm bath.
• Use an eye mask or blackout curtains to block out light and earplugs if noise is a particular issue.
• Exercise regularly. Doing so can improve the quality of your sleep, namely by making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

Maintain A Healthy Diet

Good, nutritious diets have been shown to positively affect mood and energy levels. On the other hand, poor eating habits contribute to stress. Cut out junk food, sugary snacks, sodas, and excessive amounts of alcohol. Focus on balanced meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Although this may be especially difficult, I highly recommend reducing alcohol intake to one drink per day, if at all. Alcohol can worsen stress and should not be used as a coping mechanism, despite what might be a common practice in our society.

Consider Therapy

I’ve discussed therapy in other articles I’ve posted, but I’m reiterating it again here simply because it’s that important. Therapy can provide a safe space to process emotions and develop coping strategies.

If you’re not already in therapy, consider starting. Divorce is a significant life stressor, and professional support can truly be invaluable. If you are in therapy, discuss increasing session frequency or adjusting medications with your therapist based on your needs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, in particular, can be considerably effective for managing stress and anxiety.

Explore Mindfulness

Mindfulness might come off as the latest buzzword, but there’s a lot more to it than what may meet the eye. It can help you stay present and reduce stress by cultivating a calm, organized mind. If you’re open to it, consider:

• Engaging in daily meditation or deep-breathing exercises to help center yourself.
• Keeping a daily diary to organize your thoughts and plan your days effectively.
• Being intentional about planning simple things, like allowing extra time for travel to avoid rushing. This can reduce many smaller daily stressors that would otherwise snowball throughout your day.
• Exploring cognitive-behavioral techniques with a therapist to develop structured plans for managing stress, if necessary.

The main point here is to take time each day to check in with yourself emotionally and mentally.

For more information on Suggestions for Moving Forward After Divorce, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (347) 797-1188 | (914) 362-3080 today.