Your divorce has received the final judgment and you have taken off your wedding rings. The fairy tale romance meant to last forever is now over. You may even go through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, sadness, bargaining, and finally, acceptance. Each stage must be gone through completely in order to move to the next.
The good news is that you can now live life on your terms. It's time to take care of your own needs following the divorce. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Hire a Babysitter and Enjoy Some Alone Time
This might seem a bit selfish following a divorce. Your children have just lost the security of a two-parent home. Now you are leaving them with a sitter for some alone time. It doesn't make you a bad parent; in fact, it's just the opposite. You will be a better parent for doing so.
We all know how inquisitive children are. It's a fact that the average four-year old asks 437 questions in a day on average. In order to be the best parent, you need some alone time. This time alone will allow you time to focus on how you will answer these questions.
See Your Friends on a Regular Basis
You will discover your friends are your primary source of outside comfort. When you got married you might have neglected these old friendships, but it is time to reach out now. True friends will be compassionate and understand you were involved in creating a family. Now that the relationship is over, they are here to help you to pick up the pieces and move on.
Create Your Own Space
Creating your own space is important. This allows you a place you can go to think and reflect on the time you were married and plan for the future. Having a place you can go to get away from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life is a necessity.
It's a fact that the average garage door opens and closes three to five times a day. This is around 1,500 times each year. Over a 15-year course, all this action puts extreme pressure on the garage door opener. Now may be the time to finally fix up this unused space on your property.
You can turn your garage into your own personal sanctuary with the help of a repairman, paint, fun decorations, and thrifted furniture. You may add gym equipment, a yoga mat, and a speaker to listen to music, too. Add your favorite candles and scents to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Get Involved In Your Community
Your community is also an excellent place to find support to help take care of your own needs following divorce. Join a support group for newly divorced people or single parents. Volunteer at the local library or your children's school. Take up an old hobby you placed on hold during the marriage. There is so much life going on right in your own community.
Figuring Out Your Next Steps
One final way to take care of your needs following a divorce is to figure out what is next. It is recommended that following a divorce you update insurance policies and beneficiaries. A known fact is your estate plan should be updated every five years. When you get married or move to a new state you automatically update these plans, so when you get divorced these plans also require updating.
Divorces can be sad and difficult. However, now is your chance to find who you are again and even reinvent yourself. Use these tips to help you move forward in peace.
