The benefits of certain self-care behaviors post-divorce

Several years ago, the memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” became a best-seller and was then turned into a blockbuster movie. It is not difficult to see why the message behind this memoir resonates with so many individuals. The memoir’s author suffers through a heartbreaking divorce. She then decides to travel for an extended period of time eating in Italy, praying in India and seeking balance (and ultimately learning to love again) in Indonesia. The idea that one must change and evolve after suffering heartbreak is not a new idea. However, the concept of emotional renewal is not always on the minds of individuals navigating the ups and downs of life post-divorce.

Life after divorce tends to be hectic. It may seem like there is not enough time, money or energy in your life at any given moment. Interestingly, it is precisely because the process of divorce and the hectic aftermath of the process are so depleting that it is so important to take excellent care of yourself.

If you fail to take good care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually in the wake of divorce, you may never regain the strength and energy you need to pursue a healthy, happy future. The self-care behaviors that are most important to you may be different from someone else’s. Instead of “Eat, Pray, Love,” you may need to “Eat, Meditate, Unplug,” or “Eat, Rest, Take a Long Vacation.”

However you choose to pursue self-care, avoid feeling guilty about your self-care behaviors. Attending to your physical, mental and emotional needs for renewal in the wake of divorce are just as important (and perhaps far more important) than any other items on your to-do list.

Source

: The Huffington Post, “Eat, Pray and Unplug,” Tamsen Fadal, March 4, 2015