Reduce your stress in a divorce: Avoid social media

In the last decade, social media has grown to eclipse many aspects of our personal lives. Sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn allow us to stay connected to geographically distant friends, family members and former co-workers. Unfortunately, many people use these platforms to share anything and everything. This can cause unexpected complications when proceeding through a divorce.

It’s no secret that countless people use social networking sites to vent their frustrations. From the problems they faced on their morning commute to the service they received at lunch, these sites can take on a life of their own. When divorce becomes a reality, individuals must curtail these desires and figuratively hold their tongues for the sake of a smooth, efficient process.

Here are some helpful tips.

• Don’t use social media to play out arguments with your spouse or ex. From calling someone out about being late to the child exchange to allegations of infidelity during the marriage, airing this type of dirty laundry will likely put your child in an uncomfortable situation.
• What would your boss think of your social media presence? While there used to be clear lines between personal and professional lives, the news is littered with stories of people taking a social or political stance on social media and paying for it at the workplace. Angry rants about your messy divorce might not be too far afield. It is not uncommon for an employer to see vicious, irate or otherwise inappropriate posts and decide you are not the type of person who should be representing the organization.
• Are your friends’ social media pages beyond reproach? This tip is less about the types of things you post and more about how much you trust your friends. It is not uncommon for friends to remain stoically by your side through a divorce to the degree that they begin disparaging your spouse on social media platforms. As this can ultimately reflect poorly on you, it is wise to encourage your friends to take the high road.

Whether you are leading up to a divorce, in the divorce process or building your new life post-divorce, it is wise to take every opportunity to reduce your stress levels. One simple way to do this is by ignoring the temptation of getting into social media arguments or venting emotional baggage onto the internet. You can look to your family law attorney for guidance regarding the relationship between social media and the divorce process.