Staying Strong During a Divorce

Divorce is mentally, physically and financially draining, especially if there are kids involved. Don't let events or despair overwhelm you. You need to stay strong during this particularly stressful life event. Although it may feel like it, this is not the end of your life; it's a new beginning.

Take good care of yourself. Maintain a regular schedule, which helps to minimize the feeling that your life is out of control. Eat well, try to get sufficient sleep and if you don't already exercise regularly, now is the time to start. It's a well-known fact that exercise releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones, and becoming more fit can help to boost your self-esteem, which may have taken a severe blow with the ending of your marriage. Find little ways to pamper yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a nature hike or taking up a hobby you can enjoy on a daily basis like sewing.

As much as possible, try to work things out with your spouse in terms of custody of your children and the division of your personal effects rather than let your lawyers duke it out at hundreds of dollars per hour over the furniture and other household goods. If you can't work out an equitable split, either let it go or let your lawyer negotiate a fair cash value.

Remaining calm and strong is the best thing you can do for your kids. Put the focus on them. They need to know that even though you don't love each other anymore, you both still love them.