Expert Tips for Starting Over After A Divorce

 Posted on February 07, 2014 in Divorce

A divorce can represent a major change in your life circumstances, but being prepared with a plan can be really helpful for giving you the time you need to heal successfully. If you have been thinking about a divorce but would like some of your questions answered first, reach out to an Illinois divorce attorney to get started with your plan. When you understand how the legal process works, you might feel more confident about your next step.

Judy Smith is a divorce coach who has written several books about moving on after a relationship has ended. She recommends that first and foremost you give yourself an opportunity to grieve. It's not going to be easy to move on immediately and you shouldn't attempt to. You should instead focus on taking small steps and allowing yourself to process through the emotions.

Psychiatrist Sudha Prathikanti says that getting organized is a great way to internally and externally work through a "refresh". Cleaning can help you get rid of some of the mementos connected to your marriage (like photos or vacation knickknacks you picked up together) but it's also a good way to focus your mind on a very specific task. Giving yourself time to grieve and to "clean up" your home is a good approach towards putting the past in the past.

As you might expect, exercise can have a strong influence on how you feel. You don't need to commit to a serious program to reap the benefits- you can start a small plan to walk with a friend or even set smaller goals to work towards a big achievement (like participating in a 5K). Just like cleaning up your home, this gives you a chance to think about what you want out of life and to put a plan in motion to achieve it. If you want to know more about divorce, contact an Illinois family law attorney.