Surviving Your Divorce – 10 Ways To Get Started (Part Two)
Surviving Your Divorce
Part Two
My last post included different ideas to start moving your life forward during or after your divorce. Life as you have known it has changed – maybe for the better. Still, it’s easy for your world to become pretty narrow when you have the stress of divorce on your shoulders. Here is the second part of my article on how to ease back into your life and establish new connections and beginnings.
6. Sleep. Even sleep may not be easy – but you need it. Limit any type of electronics an hour before bed. Put the laptop away. No emails. No texting. No TV. Put yourself in a technology time-out
7. Create. Your new life. Make a goal board. Starting over can provide new opportunities. Visualize your future.
8. Don’t speak badly about your spouse. No one wants to hear it and in the end – it won’t make you feel any better to say it. Your time is better spent exercising or speaking positively about the good things in your life. If you have children – your spouse is part of them and they will feel terrible if they hear it. Keep adult conversations away from your kids. Your job is to protect them from this type of negativity – not take steps to expose them to it. You may say something out of anger and forget about it – but they won’t.
9. Forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. Whether it was choosing the wrong spouse or not investing in the marriage. Learn from it – and then move forward.
10. Focus on the good in your life – Every day is a gift. Gain perspective. As bad as your situation may be or feel – there are probably millions of people in this world that would trade problems with you. Live. Breathe. And if you can – laugh.
There is life after divorce – and you don’t have to wait until the divorce papers are signed to start taking care of yourself and building your future – whether it is walking around the block, using social media, or traveling around the world. Opportunities await you.
Michael C. Craven is a well-known divorce attorney in Chicago, CPA and a partner of the law firm, Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove LLP located in the Chicago area. He is highly respected among other divorce attorneys, judges and his clients. He also holds a Master of Tax Law Degree (LLM). For more information about his services, contact Michael at mccraven@beermannlaw.com or at Divorce Lawyers Chicago
Thanks for these tip.
I think they will be very helpfull for a lot of people.
Jeanw,
Thank you for your comments. Keep following my blog, as I write on a variety of Illinois Family Law topics.
I really like 8, 9, and 10 in the article. I love that you emphasize the ill effect speaking badly of your ex-spouse will have on children, and that it’s your job to protect them from the negativity. Great advice to focus on the positive points and experiences from the marriage. So many simply trash the other person, playing the blame game, instead of looking at where they may have contributed to the marriage’s demise. I also love your point that every day is a gift. It is.
And of course, there’s my fondest thing to do… forgive. Good work you are doing. Nice to meet you.
cj
Thanks CJ. Forgiveness could be added to my tips for Surviving Your Divorce. I strive to write both informative and interesting blogs.