Remembering New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthier Divorce
No matter what stage of the divorce process you are in, the arrival of the new year makes it a great time to make a few changes that will put you and your divorce on the high road. Especially for those in a litigated divorce, the process can make you feel stuck and bogged down. Follow these tips to regain a sense of momentum in your life:
- Take care of yourself.
Many New Year’s resolutions focus on losing weight and making more money. But if you are going through a divorce, your number one resolution should be to be to surround yourself with support, kindness and love. Make a standing weekly or monthly date with good friends and family members. The American Psychological Association suggests joining a divorce support group. Having lots of emotions is normal – decide now to start getting them out so that they don’t control you.
- If you have children, see a co-parenting counselor.
This is a great resolution for parents in any stage of the divorce process. Even divorced parents who have amicably co-parented for years can benefit from a few sessions with a co-parenting counselor. This allows parents to evaluate how things have been working and to communicate about any areas for improvement.
- If you are not using divorce mediation, give it a chance.
Even if you are in the middle of a long, litigated divorce, it is not too late to save money and time by exploring mediation. If you and your soon-to-be-ex are both feeling demoralized by the expense and length of an adversarial divorce, the new year could be a great time to open the discussion about taking a new, less costly and more peaceful path to finalizing the divorce.
To learn more about the divorce process in California and how mediation can help, please visit our page, “What is Divorce Mediation.”
Gerald A. Maggio is a trained divorce mediator who has amicably resolved cases many cases out of court, as well as an experienced divorce and family law attorney. Mr. Maggio founded California Divorce Mediators in 2012 with the belief that although “not every marriage can be saved, every family can” and a mission to save families from the financial and emotional distress associated with traditional divorce litigation. California Divorce Mediators is located in Irvine, California, and serves the Orange County area and other counties in California offering divorce mediation, child custody mediation and mediation of other family law matters.
