Written by: Debbie Martinez • April 9, 2019• Divorce

12 Tips to Get Through a Divorce

Divorce is difficult, stressful, exhausting and at times, downright ugly. It can be hard finding a suitable Divorce attorney, going to court, potentially fighting for custody, etc. because divorce is a long process. Here are 12 great things to keep in mind as you travel down this path.

Spiritual practice – Implement a spiritual practice like yoga, meditation, vision board creation or a morning devotional time. Keep a gratitude list.
Strengthen your faith – Sometimes when bad things happen to good people they question why and shrink from their faith. Going through a divorce is not the time to turn away but to run towards it. Whatever your faith is, it will give you strength that you won’t find anywhere else.
Journal – Keeping a journal is helpful in many ways. It is a tool to manage your thoughts and feelings; a way to reflect and revisit on situations and how you felt at the time. It is a great way to see if you have grown through this process. You can vent without consequences and pour your heart out without fear of judgment.
Get organized – Organization is key to feeling in control. If you have children, have a big schedule posted somewhere so everyone knows where they will be at any given time and have a system for after school, homework and signing of papers. keep your divorce papers in a binder with categories labeled. Some people like to re-nest during this time, clean things out of the house and reorganize.
Self-care – This is so important, and an area that most women put on the back burner. If you are not healthy physically and mentally, you will make poor decisions, not be present for your children and not feel good about yourself. Take time to do whatever makes you calm, happy and feel good. For some it’s a bath and a book or a spa day or a game of tennis. You decide and put it in your calendar as if it were a doctor or attorney appointment.
Support system – Everyone going through a divorce needs a support system, but make sure the people you choose are positive, uplifting and have good advice… and not vengeful advice. Sometimes family and friends are too emotionally close to the situation and might not be the best ones to give advice. Seek out a divorce coach or therapist if you feel that this is the case. Additionally, you need to be certain that you can trust and rely on the attorney you choose to give their full support to you, just as this family law jacksonville fl attorney would professionally handle your situation.
Restrain your pen and tongue – Bill Wilson fro AA said, “Nothing pays off like restraint of pen and tongue.” No truer words were spoken when going through a divorce. The worst thing you can do is shoot off an email or pick up the phone when you’re upset with your ex. It might feel terrific for a few minutes to give him/her a piece of your mind but the effects could be detrimental for a very long time. This is true especially when you are approaching mediation. If you need legal council, there are family law firms, similar to Nathens, Siegel LLP, that can help you through mediation.
Acceptance – This is by far one of the hardest things to get a handle on but it’s the one that will give you peace. Accept where you are, accept your part in the demise of your marriage, accept that things will and need to change, accept that your children will have a whole other family you are not a part of and accept that everything happens for a reason.
Don’t be afraid of the ‘fishbowl’ effect – You get divorced and suddenly it seems everything you do is discussed and criticized by others. You could be doing the exact same things you did when you were married, but all of sudden because you’re single it’s talked about. Shrug it off. 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, so the chances are good someone will take your place in the gossip circle soon.
Grow a pair of b—- -This goes hand in hand with #9. Speak up for yourself but you don’t have to defend yourself. Also, most soon to be exes try bullying and some even continue after the judge has stamped your decree. Set your boundaries and stick to them.
Assemble your team – People want cheap divorces so they skimp and then wonder why they have poor agreements. They walk away from the process exhausted physically and an emotional wreck. Hire a good attorney like you would find at SimonAttorneys.com and not a friend who is not a family law attorney. Big, big mistake if you do. Get a good accountant on board, a child specialist for your children and a coach to help you navigate the legal and emotional process as well as troubleshoot any post divorce issues.
BELIEVE! – In yourself, your inner strength, hope for a better life post divorce and that everything will work out just the way it is supposed to.

Debbie Martinez, MA is a certified, mindful life coach specializing in divorce (aka: heartbreak coach). She professionally coaches clients on how to avoid the breakup backlash and live better, not bitter. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator trained in collaborative divorce, Debbie gives clients the tools they need to successfully untie the knot and stand strong in the wake of adversity. She brings her formal training and life experience into her coaching practice to empower and educate clients through their divorce journey and onto new beginnings. You can contact Debbie at [email protected].

(Visited 46 times, 1 visits today)