How to Stay Cool, Calm and Collected During a Divorce

There’s no getting around it — divorce is stressful. There are so many things you need to be worried about during the process that it can be very easy to lose your temper and lash out at your former partner, especially if you believe he or she is being unreasonable or is trying to intentionally hurt you.

However, it is in your best interests to be as calm and measured as possible during a divorce, as it will give you the best chance at achieving the outcomes you desire. The following are a few tips for how you can maintain your cool, even when you feel you’re reaching your breaking point:

• Let go of the negative: Before you attend a mediation session or a court hearing with your former spouse, release any negative thoughts and emotions you may be experiencing. You can do this by writing down your thoughts in a journal, working out at the gym or going for a walk.
• Think about the long term: Remember, once you finalize your divorce agreement, you won’t have to deal so much with your former spouse! So, while the short term may be stressful, there are brighter days ahead.
• Take a deep breath: When you think you are about to lose control of your emotions, take a time out. Take a few slow, deep breaths and regain your composure. This will help you avoid losing your temper and saying things you might regret later.
• Be strategic: It’s possible that you may need to give up a few small things to get what you want in the grand scheme of your negotiations. Instead of fighting your former spouse on every little detail, think about your top priorities. In fact, you can leverage giving up something low on your priority list to get something much more important in return.
• Use your support system: Believe it or not, your friends and family members like to feel needed, so don’t be afraid to lean on them for emotional support when you really need it. (However, you should avoid turning to your children in these circumstances.)

These are just a few ways you can manage stress as you work through your divorce. To learn more about how you can manage this process effectively, meet with a knowledgeable Jacksonville divorce attorney today.

Attorney Andrea Jevic contributed to this post.