You probably already know that divorce battles can be costly in terms of time and money. You may also be aware that conflict between parents can take a severe toll on children. What you may not be aware of is how a contentious divorce battle can exhaust your energy reserves. At the law office of Sheldon E. Finman, we believe that a collaborative or cooperative divorce process can help you conserve your energy by not becoming involved in destructive court battles.
You can then channel your conserved energy into more constructive outlets. UpToParents.org offers a few suggestions of efficient and productive uses of your time and energy during and after divorce.
1. Supporting and encouraging your children
No matter how carefully you handle the divorce, it will be traumatic for your children. Children are resilient and can recover, but they need assurances of your unconditional love and of their value as human beings. Now is a time to focus on them and help lay the foundation on which they will rebuild their self-concept and worldview.
2. Reading or re-reading a good book on the divorce process
Professional advice can be enormously helpful during the grieving and healing process that arises from divorce. If you have already read some books on divorce, now is a good time to revisit the ones you found particularly beneficial.
3. Improving yourself
For some people, divorce can be a time of uncertainty about identity. While this can be upsetting, it is also an opportunity to reinvent yourself as the person you want to be. You can take advantage of this by committing yourself to daily exercise or trying something new that you never had time for before: a hobby, a new business venture, volunteering, vacationing, etc.
When you stop fighting with your ex-spouse, you can find and commit yourself to better uses of your time and energy. More information about collaborative and cooperative divorce is available on our website.