During the month of November, we all focus on gratitude. Did anyone else do the 30 days of thanks challenge? But after Thanksgiving, many of us check that off the list and move on to the next thing. But I challenge you, as we close out the month, to continue giving thanks. Especially for those in the middle of or post-divorce who feel physically and emotionally drained, having a grateful mindset can go a long way toward helping you heal. Here’s how to incorporate gratitude into your life beyond Thanksgiving.
Benefits of Practicing Gratitude
Gratitude is simply the recognition of the positive things in your life. That’s a nice concept, but with everything else you’ve got going on, is it worth making a point to practice gratitude daily? Yes! According to Healthline, the benefits include:
- Boosting your immune system
- Improving mental health
- Improving sleep quality
- Improving emotional regulation
- Increased feelings of happiness and hope for the future
- Reduced stress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Healing After Divorce with Gratitude
So, how do you begin to practice gratitude at a time when you feel anything but thankful? It won’t necessarily be easy but think of it as a way to take back control of your mindset and, in turn, how you move forward after divorce. Consider these options:
1. Keep a gratitude journal
Journaling is cathartic in and of itself but writing down three to five things each day that you feel grateful for can change your perspective and help you to be more present in the moment. It’s also handy to look back at during those tough days during and after divorce.
2. Try gratitude meditations
During stressful times, it’s even more critical to decompress, and meditation is a great way to do that. Gratitude meditations take that a step further as these are guided tracks that prompt you to think about something that made you smile, for example, and how that joy feels in your body. Most are less than ten minutes in length, and you can find them on YouTube or even through apps like Headspace.
3. Practice yoga
Exercise is vital to our well-being, and yoga is a meditative process as well, so win-win! Beyond strengthening your body, the stretching and deep breathing that you’ll do with yoga can help keep you grounded.
4. Keep in touch with loved ones
Yes, some friends and family members aren’t the most helpful during divorce, offering too much judgment and insufficient support. But, stick close to the ones who are a source of comfort and perhaps set a time each week to catch up on the phone or in person. If nothing else, it will give you something to look forward to!
5. Volunteer
There’s nothing that feels better than giving back, and it’s a great distraction from your challenges as well. Look for local causes near to your heart. You can also check with friends and family to see which organizations they support, and you could volunteer together (another way to keep in touch)!
6. Practice self-care
Committing to self-care is by no means selfish; it’s essential to maintain balance, especially during stressful times like divorce. But self-care doesn’t necessarily look the same to everyone. What’s important is to prioritize yourself – doing things that you enjoy and help you to relax and reset. That could be hitting the spa, eating your favorite foods, bingeing your favorite movies, taking a long bath, sleeping in, reading a new book, or something else entirely.
For more information on how our online divorce coaching and mediation services can help you during and after divorce, contact our expert team today to learn more.
