4 Tips For Self-Care During Your Illinois Divorce
Divorce is stressful. This is such a truism it hardly needs to be said. Between splitting up assets, negotiating with your former partner, taking care of any children, and trying to keep a household and career running smoothly, self-care can fall by the wayside.
Ongoing stress is terrible for our mental and physical health, and people will often suffer from illness or chronic pain after a divorce. Anxiety and depression are also common, as is weight gain or loss, substance abuse, and even heart disease. Here are a few things you can do to help improve your health and reduce stress during a divorce.
Exercise
The benefits of exercise extend beyond physical health. Mental health also improves due to better digestion, heart rate, and hormone regulation. You will feel better all around if you can remember to stay active during your divorce–even if you are exhausted.
Get Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep and overwhelming stress can create a devastating one-two punch on your health. A full 7 to 8 hours of sleep is important, especially when your mind and body are trying to recover from stress. Try to create a daily routine for you and your family, and then stick to it. Schedule sleep and treat it like you would an important work appointment–do not miss it or let scheduling conflicts get in the way.
Consider Therapy or a Divorce Coach
Many people find therapists to be very helpful during divorce, not only for overcoming the hurt that results from a relationship breaking up, but to help them understand their own responsibility and avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Similar to a therapist, a divorce coach will provide motivation, support, and guidance for individuals going through a divorce. Goostree Law Group has divorce coaching available for their clients.
Keep the Big Picture in Mind
Remember that, especially if you are the one who initiated the divorce, you did it because you believed you would be better off in the long run. But if you neglect your health and well-being right now, the benefits of getting a divorce will have been for nothing. Try to maintain perspective, remembering that the divorce process will not last forever and that you can come out of it healthy and happy.
Contact a St. Charles, IL Divorce Attorney
Having an experienced divorce lawyer is a great way to ease your mind during a divorce. When you can trust your attorney, you can focus on other things that can contribute to your well-being. To schedule a free consultation with a Kane County divorce lawyer at Goostree Law Group, call 630-584-4800.
Sources:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+IV&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=3900000&SeqEnd=5400000
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9300516/