Focusing on yourself after divorce is the crucial step towards healing and moving forward. Bellow are some suggestions that I find important to help you prioritize self-care and personal growth:
- Allow yourself to grieve: Divorce is hard, and can be emotionally challenging, hence it’s essential to allow yourself to grieve the end of your relationship. Give yourself permission to experience and process those painful emotions, without judgement.
- Practice self-compassion: Be kind and patient with yourself during this time. Divorce can bring up a range of emotions, including guilt, shame, or self-blame. Remember that divorce causes a complete change in your life dynamics, so it’s normal to have a mix of emotions during this difficult phase. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding you would offer to a close friend.
- Take time for self-reflection: Use this period to reflect on yourself, on your needs and your goals. Find out what brings you joy and fulfillment. Consider your values, passions, and aspirations. Use this opportunity to rediscover who you are as an individual and what you want for your future.
- Pray and Meditate: Prayer can provide a sense of solace and comfort during challenging times like divorce. It offers a space for you to express your emotions, seek inner peace, and find solace in your spiritual path. It is a way of finding strength and guidance during this difficult process of healing and moving forward. It also provides a sense of connection to a higher power and offers a source of support, wisdom, and guidance as you navigate through your post-divorce journey.
- Prioritise self-care: Focus on taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Engage in activities that promote your well-being, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, and engaging in hobbies or activities that you enjoy. Make self-care a priority to nurture your overall well-being, you need yourself the most at this time, it is important to prioritise yourself and focus on you.
- Set boundaries and establish routines: Establish clear boundaries to protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being. Create healthy routines that support your self-care and personal growth. Like I said previously, you need to set aside time for self-reflection, pursuing hobbies, engaging in self-care practices, and exploring new interests.
- Seek help and support: Seek support from close family and friend who understand and respect your journey; lean on them for emotional support when you need. Seek professional help if you find that your grief is overwhelming, persistent and interfering with your daily functioning. Reach out to a counselor, a therapist, or a coach for guidance – as they can provide you with tools, strategies, and insights to process and cope with painful emotions in the right way.
- Invest in your personal growth: Take this opportunity to invest in your personal growth and development. Set goals for yourself, in areas like your career, education, hobbies and relationships. Consider exploring new interests or learning new skills, that can contribute to your personal and professional growth.
Remember that healing and moving forward after a divorce is a process that takes time. Be patient with yourself and celebrate even small steps forward. If needed, consider seeking professional guidance from a therapist, a counsellor or a coach, who can provide you with additional support and guidance throughout your journey of focusing on yourself.