Life After Divorce: 4 Tips for Adapting and Settling In

Change is hard.

Your divorce may have been unexpected. Or maybe you knew it was coming. Either way, any type of change is never easy. Whether you and your partner were together for one year or over ten years, change is hard no matter what the circumstances are.

Life after divorce can seem like a rollercoaster ride. You may be overwhelmed, nervous, anxious, and more.

Here are 4 tips for adapting and settling in after a divorce:

1. Give yourself time to process.

First and foremost, give yourself time and grace. There isn't a timeline here. You can't mark a date on a calendar as a deadline for healing. Processing emotions will be different for everyone, even if they're going through the same situation. Take as much or as little time as you need to process all of your emotions.

Some days will be easier than others. That's completely normal and okay! Processing your emotions may feel uncomfortable at times, but allowing yourself to actually feel them will help you in the long run. Give yourself an adequate amount of time to heal.

2. Learn to let go.

Holding onto the past will only keep you there. In order to keep moving forward and onward, you have to learn to let go.

Push those 'what ifs' to the side. By giving yourself the necessary amount of time to process all of your emotions, learning to let go will become a lot easier. These steps go hand in hand. Try to live in the present and look towards the future instead of focusing on things from your past.

One of the best activities you can do post-divorce is to create a solo bucket list. Go after your dreams and what you want for your life. This is a great way to start looking forward to the future instead of focusing on the past.

3. Take time to find yourself again.

Think of this as an opportunity for a fresh start. This is a perfect time to find yourself and your passions again. In your relationship, you may have given up something that you enjoyed doing when you were single. This is your time to get back to that, guilt-free.

What makes you happy? Your interests will be unique to you, but here are some great suggestions of hobbies that may be interesting to you:

• Attend a cooking class.

• Get physically active.

• Book a trip.

• Start gardening.

• Get creative with an art or pottery class.

In addition to finding your passions again, take some time to relax and unwind as well. Book yourself a well-deserved massage. Get your nails done. Attend a workout class with friends. Try out a new recipe. Make sure you're taking time to focus on yourself and your needs.

4. You don't have to go through it alone.

It's difficult to move on without taking the time to process what and how you're feeling. Allowing yourself to feel some of the emotions may seem unbearable, but you don't have to go through it alone.

If you start to notice yourself feeling anxious or stressed, own those feelings and reach out for support. You may feel alone after divorce, but you don't have to be. Ask for help.

Whether you decide to lean on friends or family or reach out to a mental health professional, there are people ready and available to assist you through this time in your life. Talking about your divorce with someone, especially a therapist or counselor, can help you move forward. They can give you the tools you need to let go, grieve, and process.

Divorce Counseling can help you realize there's life after divorce. Rather than an ending, healing from divorce can be a new beginning for you. Reach out today to learn more.