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After a divorce, it can be a great time to refocus your life and make positive changes to your health. Read on for 10 self-care tips that will help you rebuild your confidence…

Even the most civil divorces, with the help of a national or international divorce lawyer, can be a draining and mentally damaging process. This means that, post-divorce, you might need time to start the process of healing and rebuilding your confidence.

It’s imperative that you find a way to move past any negative, unhealthy feelings in order to start the process of healing and finding happiness again. Read on to find out 10 top tips for improving your confidence, practicing self-care, and rebuilding your life post-divorce…

1.  Be Kind to Yourself

You are going through a difficult time, and you might not be functioning at your best, so it’s important to let yourself off the hook and give yourself credit for the little things. Whether that’s getting out to the supermarket, going for a coffee with a friend, or taking a walk around your local park, celebrate the little wins!

2.  Eat Right

Ok, we’re no dietician, but ensuring your body is being fuelled in the right way is a great way to improve your physical and mental health. However, sometimes the last thing you might want to do when you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed is cook and eat.

These top tips might help you to get your appetite back and start to rebuild your eating habits and, therefore, improve your physical and mental health.

3.  Physical Activity

Exercise is one of the best ways to release positive endorphins and get you feeling confident and motivated. The initial get up might be a struggle, but you will really thank yourself for it if you do.

You could start with light exercise like walking or yoga, or go straight into something a bit more active like running, swimming or a team sport. This is also a great way to meet new people, socialise with your friends, and get you out of the house. This will all contribute to you feeling more positive and therefore increasing your self-confidence.

4.  Get in a Routine

A routine is a great way to take your mind off your divorce, and distract you from negative thoughts and emotions by keeping busy. In no time at all, you’ll feel back to your normal self.

5.  Reconnect With Your Interests

During a marriage, compromises have to be made and sometimes this looks like giving up what you’re interested in, especially if your focus shifts to children.

But, with co-parenting or no spouse around, you might find yourself having more time so you can reconnect with your interests. This could be painting, cooking, hiking, or writing a book. Whatever it is, get out there and reconnect and enjoy life again.

If you don’t have any hobbies, this is a great time to find out what you love and start one.

6.  Seek Professional Help

Therapy and professional help are a great way to practice self-care and rebuild your confidence. They will also provide practical advice in the form of coping mechanisms, skills, and ways to manage the stress and anxiety you might feel post-divorce.

Here’s some reasons why you should consider giving therapy a go.

7.  Speak to Friends and Family

Try not to isolate yourself post-divorce. You might be worried about how your friends and family might perceive you after a divorce or be worried about what advice or opinion they are going to provide you with. But, it is so important to reach out and connect with loved ones when you’re dealing with the loss of a relationship.

8.  Write

Writing can be really healing for some people, and you can use it to write down your current feelings towards your divorce. This can help you to process your feelings without having to actually talk to people about it.

One study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine suggests writing using the following prompts:

• In what ways did your ex make you a worse version of yourself?
• In what ways did they make you a better version of yourself?
• How can you hold on to these beneficial qualities while letting go of the qualities that no longer serve you?

You can also use the space to write down positive feelings and things you are doing that are helping you to feel good. You could use affirmations, encouragement, and positive self-talk; things like:

• “I am worthy.”
• “I am enough.”
• “I am complete.”
• “I love myself.”
• “I value myself/”
• “I have everything I need within me.”
• “I love myself even if no one else loves me.”

These statements will help you to build up your self-confidence post-divorce.

9.  Do a Social Media Cleanse

Social media can be a supportive community, but it can also be detrimental to mental health, especially when you are already feeling vulnerable. The last thing you want to see when doing through a divorce is what your ex-partner is up to.

We would recommend unfollowing or unfriending your ex and people who are connected to them. If they are mutual friends that you would like to stay in contact with when things are a bit easier, you could mute these people for now instead, so the posts you see of them are limited.

You could also decide to have a complete detox from social media profiles whilst you come to terms with your divorce. This could mean logging out of all your accounts.

10.  Make a Bucket List

A bucket list is a great way to look towards the future and focus on something else. There might be things you have wanted to do, places you have wanted to see, or a new career that your ex-spouse might not have been interested in or didn’t support.

So, now is the best time to write those down and get out there!

Ready to Rebuild Your Life After a Divorce?

Rebuilding your life after a divorce isn’t going to be easy, and you need to give it time. There’s no defined timeline of how long it takes to get back your self-confidence, but these 10 steps are a great place to start to help you to focus on the future, not the past.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick your favourite idea from the list and get started today. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself!

Are you going through a divorce and have some tips on how to rebuild your confidence? Let us know in the comments below.