January: Divorce and Wellness
What do January, divorce, and wellness have in common? These themes tend to swirl around with the winter winds of change during this time of year. January is often referred to as “divorce month” because of noticeable spikes in divorce filings after the holidays. There are many theories as to why, but I find it more important to focus on how this might apply to you or someone you love. Perhaps you are experiencing the initial impacts that a divorce transition can bring, or maybe your body remembers the date that divorce once touched your life during this particular season of “new beginnings.”
There is no generic template to navigating divorce recovery. But if there is one component of divorce support that resonates with me (as a physical therapist AND a divorce coach), it is this: during seasons of divorce, taking radical care of your body is imperative.
What does radical self care look like? Consider how you might take care of your body if it were recovering from a heart attack. (Using this example as it ties in with the hyperbole, ‘broken heart.’) Jen Hatmaker recounts receiving this sage advice from Brené Brown when she found herself in imminent divorce “survival mode:”
Eat nourishing food
Hydrate
Move
Sleep
Meditate
We also know that our bodies keep the score. Perhaps a divorce anniversary pulls up old sensations that nudge you to reestablish connection with your body. Regardless of whether your are noticing acute or subtle signs, listen to them. These are your cues to tune in so you can tune up your body systems.
The good news is that January also offers many resources to help guide us, whether they may offer support to survive through or to thrive after divorce. January Whole 30 programs offer healthy non-inflammatory recipes. Dry-January programs help cleanse and hydrate your healing body. New year journals and calendars can help provide meditative support to remind you to tune in with your needs.
What’s important is to remember that these programs are designed to offer support - not contribute to overwhelm. A significant connection between divorce and wellness is the concept of letting go.
What is necessary to let go of in order to prioritize the health and well-being of your body?
What is one strategy you can utilize to support your body to survive and thrive?
Sending my wellness-wishes in this new year to you,
