Feeling down during the divorce process? Here’s five ways to pull yourself together during the divorce process.
Wear Real Clothes
Divorce can have you down in the dumps for sure. While there may be times when you’d like to break out the comfy pants, spending every day in your pajamas may not be the best idea—especially if it’s the same pair for the fifth day in a row. In 2020, a global pandemic rocked our world and left us with a bunch of interesting statistics about working from home in your pajamas: the consensus is that you shouldn’t do it. People who got dressed—even when they didn’t go anywhere—tended to be more productive and more confident. Confidence and productivity are extremely important for a person’s self-esteem. The ability to look back on your work and see results and accomplishments is really important. Getting dressed everyday can also improve your self-image—which can be at an all-time low during the divorce process.
Get Out There!
It’s important to get out of the house, even if you don’t want to. During the divorce process, it’s common for people to take time for themselves to really reflect on how they’re feeling and the divorce itself. However, there is such a thing as being too isolated. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. When you’re going through a divorce, it’s important to find a hobby that gives you a sense of purpose and well-being. Not only will having a hobby help you get out of the house, it can also help you cope with divorce in a productive way, as opposed to using substances or behavioral addictions to escape. Hobbies can also help you make new friends, set goals, and boost your confidence when you see all the progress you’ve made.
Time for Home-cooked Meals
Definitely treat yourself during the divorce process. Practice self-compassion and be kind to yourself—but don’t use the divorce process as an excuse to eat a bunch of junk food that’ll leave you feeling sick and tired all the time. The divorce process is emotionally draining and traumatic. And in order to feel your best, you need to be fueling your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly—and most fast food meals don’t have these nutrients in them. Make sure you’re eating a balanced and healthy diet during the divorce process. There’s always room for occasional treats in a balanced diet. But going too overboard with the treats can leave you feeling sick, lethargic, and drained. Cooking is a great hobby. It’s productive and it can help you save money during the divorce process. Many people note that the divorce process is often financially overwhelming, and that now that they’re on a single income, they can’t help but feel behind on the expenses, or feel like they’re just barely making it. Cooking at home can help save you money, especially if you start meal prepping. It can also help you focus on your health as well.
Get Active
An active lifestyle is strongly correlated with positive mental health benefits. Getting active can help you lower your stress levels, improve your body’s basic functions, and improve your sleep cycles. All of these are important components of your mental health. Physical activity can also be a source of inspiration for those who are working on setting goals. While the gym is a great place to get your steps in, it’s not for everyone. If you hate going to the gym with a burning passion, it’s going to be difficult to get in the habit of actually going since it’s such a chore to go. Make sure that you pick an activity that doesn’t feel like a punishment or a chore, but is something that you actually like to do. Trail running, hiking, bike riding, martial arts, and dance classes, are just a few physical activities that might feel less like a chore.
Basic Hygiene
It may be difficult to get out of bed in the morning every morning. When people struggle with depression, anxiety, and other side effects of trauma, they may see a dip in their executive functioning skills. While most people take a shower like there’s nothing to it, you may feel too emotionally exhausted to get showered every day—especially if you work from home. Other personal grooming habits may also fall to the side when you’re going through a depressive episode. If you’re in this situation, you probably want to take care of yourself, you just don’t have the energy to. However, taking care of your basic hygiene needs is important for your mental and physical health. If you’re struggling to find the energy to do this, it may be worth it to speak to a licensed medical professional or a mental health professional about your options regarding anti-depressants or other medications.
When Divorce is Difficult
Having an attorney who can advocate for your best interests is great, but it’s also important to take care your your mental health—something an attorney isn’t usually qualified to help you with. If you’ve been struggling during the divorce process, there is help available.
