Divorce will affect every aspect of your life in the immediate aftermath. With time you will be able to move on from most things, unless you allow your divorce to affect your health.
At the most serious end of the spectrum, stress from divorce can be attributed to strokes and heart attacks, but even at the other end of the spectrum, factors such as lack of sleep can have serious long term consequences.
When everything else in your life is changing, staying healthy can go to the bottom of the pile, but it is vital that you look after yourself during this stressful time. Here are some easy ways to ensure you stay healthy during your divorce.
Talk about it
Stress can have all sorts of negative effects on your health. Reducing stress is the key to staying healthy. Ensure you have a people to talk to about your divorce. If you don’t have friends or family that you feel you can open up to, find a counsellor that you connect to that you can visit once a week. Discussing your problems is one of the simplest ways to reducing stress.
Watch what you eat
Pay careful attention to your diet during difficult times. It is easy to over or under eat, or eat all the wrong things at the wrong time. However, what you eat can greatly affect your health and your mood. If you are feeling bad and your blood sugar gets too low, you will feel worse.
Don’t indulge in bad habits
Be careful not to indulge in an unhealthy amount of alcohol, or far more cigarettes than normal. It is tempting to want to use alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to get through your problems, but they will not solve anything.
Take time to exercise
With everything else that is going on, finding time to fit in some exercise can seem impossible. However, exercise is good for both your mental and your physical health. Try to fit something in daily, or have a weekly session that you can look forward to.
Can you cycle into work instead of drive? Can you fit in an exercise class in your lunch break, or just get out for a walk? Small changes can make a big overall difference.
Take time to relax
Ensure you have some time just for you to relax at least once a week. Whether it is some meditation, a long hot bath, sitting on the beach, or kick boxing. Whatever helps you to clear your mind and feel refreshed.
Sleep
Sleep can be difficult during a divorce, there will be a lot on your mind. But missing out on sleep will make everything seem worse and can also impact on your other relationships and your work.
If you are suffering with insomnia, follow all the advice out there about getting a good night’s sleep. Avoid screens before bed, don’t drink too much alcohol, lay off the caffeine, exercise enough and if nothing works, go and see your doctor.