Getting through a divorce can be difficult. It can be even more difficult to go through a divorce during the winter months, especially in a state like Connecticut where the weather turns cold and snowy. It’s even worse if you’re dealing with a divorce during the holiday season.
Don’t let the cold weather and the holidays exacerbate the challenges of going through a divorce. These five tips will help you get through the winter season when you’re in the process of discovering a new normal with your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
Get a Good Attorney
Your very first step is to get an attorney. Navigating your Bridgeport divorce with professional counsel can help make the process go more smoothly.
A good attorney can facilitate your communication with your ex-partner, which means you don’t have to talk to them directly. That can be extremely helpful during a tense divorce.
They can also help you understand and meet all the legal requirements of your divorce. They can deal with all the paperwork and advocate for your interests during court proceedings so you can focus on other things, like shopping ahead of the holiday season.
Find a Way to Make the Holidays Special
The holidays can be a difficult time during a divorce because traditions you once participated in as a family are no longer relevant. It’s okay to feel sad about certain traditions that you have to let go, but there are so many new traditions you can get excited about instead!
Find a way to make the holiday season special during a divorce by finding a new tradition. It could be something as simple as buying matching PJs for you and the kids or something as extravagant as going on vacation for New Year’s. What matters is that you choose something you’re excited about in the midst of your divorce.
Set Boundaries
Getting divorced comes with a new set of boundaries. That includes setting boundaries with your ex, but it might also include setting boundaries with others, especially during the winter season.
For example, you might tell your ex that all communication needs to happen through your attorney. Direct contact should only be about the kids.
You might also have to set boundaries with your ex’s family. Grandma and grandpa may no longer be able to take the kids for sleepovers while you figure out custody, and you may decide you no longer want to go to brunch with your ex sister-in-law.
It’s also okay if you need a little time and space from your friends and family too! You may tell your family that you don’t want to talk about your divorce when you get together for Christmas, or you might ask your friends to communicate via text messages because phone calls are too overwhelming.
It’s all about choosing boundaries that bring you a little peace of mind during your winter divorce.
Get into a Hobby
Even if the idea of vegging out in front of the TV until your divorce is over sounds ideal, it’s actually much better to find a hobby.
Having a hobby can improve your mental health, especially during difficult times. It can even decrease symptoms of depression, which can be common during a divorce.
The trick is to choose a hobby that you look forward to doing. A few low-cost ideas include:
- Cooking or baking
- Painting
- Gardening and indoor plants
- Writing
- Reading
- Puzzles
- Knitting
Prioritize Taking Care of Yourself
It’s easy to lose sight of taking care of yourself during a divorce, especially during the winter months, but it’s so important. Taking care of yourself helps you think more clearly, make better decisions, and feel better, both physically and emotionally.
The good news is that self-care doesn’t have to mean paying for expensive massages or going on outrageous trips. There are a lot of no-cost self-care options that will make you feel better about yourself and your situation, like:
- Doing daily stretches
- Prioritizing quality sleep
- Listening to music
- Taking a hot bath
- Saying no to overwhelming obligations
Volunteering is a great option too! By helping to take care of others you’ll discover that you feel better about yourself.
Getting divorced during the Connecticut winter can be doubly depressing, but it doesn’t have to be! When you follow the tips on this list, you can emerge in the spring as a newer, happier version of you because you took the time to take care of yourself.