Okay. This is not the life you envisioned when you took those vows. You didn’t think you’d be spending your pre-retirement years getting back into the singles’ scene. But those were the cards you were dealt with. Better to play your hand to the fullest. You must find a way to live your best life after divorce?
Just because your marriage has ended doesn’t mean your life ended with it. You are still you, and now is the perfect time to rediscover who that is, to find the joyous girl in the newly single woman. Divorce is hard — not to mention expensive — but it does not have to be catastrophic. You might even look back someday and see the humor, maybe even the downright weirdness of this experience. No matter what, though, always remember there is a whole new life for you to live. Here are some important tips to get you started!
How to Live Your Best Life After Divorce
Give Your Physical and Mental Health a Good Once-Over
Let’s face it, we women are typically the carers, the touchstones for our families. Whether our kids are two or 22, we never stop mothering. And whether we are married, divorced, or single, there is always someone who needs our care. That is not even to mention the home you have to run or the million other personal and professional responsibilities to attend to day in and day out. Amid this barrage of others’ needs and demands, we women often put ourselves at the end of our very long to-do list.
No more. Divorce is one of the most stressful life changes you can endure. That means both your body and your mind are under immense pressure, just to get through the day. To keep you moving forward through this transition, with your health and sanity intact, you must begin putting yourself first and live your best life after divorce.
The best way to start is to connect with a good healthcare provider in your area and get a baseline on your health. Have a complete physical and go ahead and get those tests done that you’ve been putting off. There a lot of health issues specific to women that it’s important to rule out. Have your mammogram, your colonoscopy, your pap smear. Get a check of your glucose levels and your blood pressure. Start living healthy life.
If there is nothing to find, then great! That’s one less thing to worry about. And if the results do reveal something, then you have the peace of mind knowing you caught it before the symptoms could appear.
But while you’re getting your physical health checked out, be sure not to neglect your mental health. You’re going through a lot, and there’s no shame in showing yourself kindness. Seek out the support of good friends and family — that is essential to your healing.
Above all, though, consider getting into counseling. A professional therapist can help you navigate the uncertain terrain you must travel on your way to a new and better life.
Practice Self-Care To Live Best Life After Divorce
Now that you are going through a divorce, it’s time to turn all those years of nurturing inward. Give yourself the kind of care you would give one of your children when they’ve suffered a wound.
Pay attention to the little things as you attend to your own healing. Make sure you are getting adequate sleep and always start the day with a nutritious breakfast.
Above all, make sure to spend time each day doing the things that you love, the things that give you pleasure and feed your soul. Read. Take long walks. Slip into a nice warm bubble bath with a glass of wine and your favorite playlist playing. Laugh at your guilty pleasure sitcom. Dance like nobody’s watching.
As you fill your days with nurturing and joy, though, don’t forget the less pleasant but equally essential elements of self-care. For example, divorce can wreak havoc on your finances. Make sure that you are aware of your financial situation and that you have a plan in place to take care of your needs well into retirement.
Get Back Out There
Divorce doesn’t mean you have to put yourself on a shelf. There are still good times to be had, so don’t be afraid to put yourself back into the dating scene. An increasing number of adults over the age of 50 have found long and happy relationships through online dating. The key, however, is to be proactive in protecting both your heart and your physical well-being.
Whether you’ve met your new prospective partner online or at the corner grocery store, always do a little digging to make sure your potential new love is who they say they are. The internet is a terrific resource for doing a little background checking. After all, in this new post-divorce life of yours, the only person you’ll be giving the gift of your time and attention is someone who deserves it!
The Takeaway
Divorce is not for the faint of heart. It can be a long and painful journey and you can expect to be broken for a while. But broken hearts and spirits do mend, and what awaits you is a new and better life, a life of finding yourself again. It all begins with self-care and treating yourself to the kind of love and nurturing that you so generously bestow on others. Remember, always, that you are worth it, and that your new life awaits. Follow the pieces of advice above and start living your best life after divorce
Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer that lives in the Northwest region of the United States. She has a particular interest in covering topics related to health, social justice, and workplace issues. When not writing, her free time is spent reading and researching to learn more about her cultural and environmental surroundings.
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