It’s easy to fall into the trap of perpetual negativity and depression after a divorce. That’s why it’s important to discover positive habits to form after divorced. The more you take care of yourself and recognize the importance of evaluating what to do with your free time after divorce, the more you will grow into the person you always wanted to be. Here are a few suggestions on what to do with yourself once divorced.
- Pick up a new hobby, or get involved in an old one. Are you into gardening? Crafts? Reading science fiction? Yoga? What are you interests? Pick a few hobbies and start doing them again in your free time. You’ll be amazed at how wonderful you feel after taking this time for yourself. If you always wanted to try something, but never did due to constraints in your marriage, make a concerted effort to try out that new hobby. Who knows? It may be a hidden talent that you never knew you had.
- Start exercising and eating properly. Ever hear of the phrase, your body is a temple? Start acting like it! What you put into your body and how you treat it not only affects your health, but your emotions as well. Exercise and healthy eating is one of the best common habits to try out once divorced. You will feel more in control of your life and your thoughts. Furthermore, you will get in shape and feel more confident with yourself.
If you already exercise and eat properly, take the next step. Start planning on running that marathon you always wanted to do. Don’t sell yourself short. You can do anything you want to achieve if you put your mind to it.
- Form healthy relationships. Do you have negative people in your life who bring you down? Are a lot of your friends actually friends of your ex? Would it behoove you to form some new friendships and expand your horizons? If so, this can be a great way to figure out how to keep going after divorce. You can rely on your friends for support, laughter, and build new, meaningful relationships with them. Those with meaningful friendships are less lonely and more fulfilled, even if they remain single.
- Be thrifty. Retail therapy is a temporary fix. If you feel depressed the worst thing you can do is spend money you don’t have. Sure, it’s great to do something nice for yourself once in awhile, but don’t make it a habit. Start budgeting your money and saving for something you really need or want. It can never hurt to have too much money in the bank, and it will help you feel more in control of your life.
- Practice positive self-talk. One of the most helpful ways to stay positive after a divorce is to practice positive self-talk. This may sound cheesy, but it actually works. Every negative thought you have, replace with a realistic and positive one. For example, if you think, “I feel lonely and fat. Nobody will ever want me,” replace it with, “I am lonely now, but I won’t be forever. I may be a little overweight, but I’m going to lose weight and get in shape in no time. It’s no big deal.” See how that works? You replace the negative, untrue thought with something more realistic, yet still believable. You are what you think!
There are many ways you can restart your life after divorce. Yes, a chapter of your life is ending, but a new one is beginning. This new one can be miserable, lonely, and unhappy, or it can be exciting, fun, and full of valuable new relationships. It is what you make of it!
Do you have any positive habits that you would recommend to others who are facing a challenging time? Please feel free to let us know in the comments below.
