No matter how strong you are, the truth is that divorce is hard, and it is sure to affect you in one way or another. Divorce means that a chapter of your life is ending, and it can be difficult to come to that realization — and even harder to think about how you can possibly move on. However, by practicing self-care and focusing on yourself, you can get through this and find happiness again.

We are here to help. We have some tips for how you can prioritize your health, find joy in your day-to-day life, and get much-needed support from the people you love. Consider these tips for staying strong while going through a divorce.

Talk to Your Support Network

The often drawn-out days of the divorce process can be difficult, but you should not draw the curtains, close the door, and shut out the world. If you fail to get a hold of your anxiety, then you could start to experience negative conditions, including existential depression, trouble sleeping, and even panic attacks. To begin to heal, you need to turn to your support network.

Although many friendships change when we become adults, there are typically those one or two people that we can turn to in times of need. Turn to them now. If they are open to it, then tell them exactly how you feel and listen to their words of encouragement. Sometimes you don’t even need to talk about the divorce directly, and just the chance to hang out and have fun might be enough to give you the mental break that you need.

Don’t Be Afraid of Therapy

If your friends are helping but it just isn’t enough, then seek out the help of a therapist (you can schedule a session here). These professionals have assisted many people in the past, and they can do the same for you. If you are not comfortable going to their office, then arrange a teletherapy session from home.

No matter what, you shouldn’t keep your feelings bottled up. If you don’t feel like talking at all, then write your thoughts down in a journal at night. Journaling is a very therapeutic activity and is a private way to work through those negative feelings.

Allow Yourself to Feel and Work Through Difficult Emotions

Avoidance will only get you so far. A positive outlook is generally touted as something to be admired. However, there is such a thing as being too positive. “Toxic positivity” occurs when you have negative emotions to feel, but you bottle them up.

Bottling up your emotions instead of feeling them in the moment only makes them stronger. They will crop up at some point in the future. Allow yourself to process the difficult emotions that arise during the divorce process. This way, you can sit with your discomfort. The goal isn’t to get rid of negative feelings, like sadness, guilt, anger, or loneliness. It’s to accept and cope with them in a healthy way.

Remember To Practice Self-Care

Prioritize self-care after a divorce. Start by getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night. By getting enough rest, you will allow your body to recharge so you can take on the day — and when you get quality sleep, you will also wake up feeling mentally refreshed so you can deal with anything that comes your way.

You should also make it a point to exercise regularly. Along with proper exercise, you need to eat a healthy diet. You may be tempted to have some ice cream here and there, and that’s more than okay. Just be sure to balance that out with fruits, vegetables, and plenty of protein. A proper diet will keep your body and mind in good shape, and many foods can also improve your mood, such as dark chocolate which promotes your brain’s production of endorphins. Nuts, like almonds and walnuts, are also great because they contain Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E, which both help with cognition and memory.

Do Things That You Love

Another form of self-care is filling your days with things that you love and enjoy. This can be as simple as sitting down and watching your favorite movie to distract yourself from your own thoughts for an afternoon. You can even take a walk around the block to clear your head and breathe in the crisp, fresh air.

This is also a time to call up your friends and go out for an evening. Do something you all enjoy, be it spending the night at the theater, getting a bite to eat at your favorite restaurant, or shopping at the mall to update your wardrobe. Get out of the house and make new memories.

If you are hard-pressed to come up with things to do, then try some of the activities that are known for promoting relaxation. For instance, many people like to build puzzles or do sudoku to keep their minds occupied. You could also go hiking or have a picnic in the park. The greenery is great for your mental health. Of course, you can always try the old standbys of practicing yoga or meditation to focus your thinking and leave you feeling great.

Find a Like-Minded Community

When you seek out activities that you enjoy, you will naturally find like-minded people. Humans are innately drawn to those who have similar qualities. This can be based on hobbies, life situations, or even a sense of humor. Divorce support groups, comedy clubs, and craft classes are all great places to start.

Finding a group of people that you can relate to can add enrichment to your life. Forge some new relationships during your self-care activities and watch how it changes your perspective about life after divorce.

Give Yourself Time to Recover

As you can see, there are many tactics and activities that you can try to build up your confidence and stay strong as you go through your divorce. Consider the tips here, and you will make it through this tough time. Again, the goal is to cope with negative emotions rather than get rid of them altogether. No one is happy one hundred percent of the time. If they say they are, they’re lying! Be patient and kind to yourself along this journey because nobody has your back post-divorce like you do.