The decision to get divorced is often one of the hardest choices a person can make. Besides the divorce process itself, it is also difficult to make the announcement to all your family, friends, coworkers, and others. Although a divorce is painful for everyone involved, it is helpful for both parties to be on the same page when delivering the news. You and your spouse shared a community of mutual friends and some might not know how to react. 

Describe Your Divorce in Simple Terms

Not only will you have to tell people about your divorce, but once they start talking, you will get a lot of questions about your divorce as well. Come up with a brief description of your divorce, around one to three sentences. This will help steer the follow-up questions so you and they feel comfortable.

A contested divorce is hard for everybody, especially when you have a daily reminder of a broken marriage on your ring finger. You may find it hard to let go of your wedding ring because it reminds you of a happier time. When you remove your ring, it is a tangible sign that the divorce is happening. It may be particularly hard to take this step if the divorce was unexpected or not a mutual decision. However, there are some benefits to letting go of your wedding ring.  

Make Money Off Your Wedding Ring

Diamonds, gold, and platinum are expensive. Coincidentally, divorce is also expensive and can be a drain on your finances. And unlike a lengthy divorce process, selling a diamond ring can be simple. First, gather any information you have about the ring, such as the original bill of sale, a previous appraisal, or documents such as a GIA Diamond Grading Report. Next, find a reputable jewelry appraiser and get an updated valuation of your ring. Make sure your diamond specialist is BBB certified. Once you know what the ring is worth, get price quotes from more than one buyer. You do not want to sell your ring to the same dealer who gives you the appraisal. When the transaction is completed, you can have money in your account in less than two days.

Lift the Emotional Weight

Divorce is difficult, and starting a new chapter in your life is a process. One step is to remove from sight any physical reminders of your ex. Clothes, pictures, wedding gifts, etc. can be emotional triggers that hold you back from moving forward. Your wedding ring is a constant reminder of a broken relationship. Getting rid of your ring can be a positive step that you are ready to begin your new chapter.

Everyone reacts differently following a divorce. Some people move far away and never think about their ex again, while others dwell on the what-ifs in their relationship. Divorce is an emotional time for everyone, and after the divorce process ends, the emotions can be overwhelming. 

If you have children together, some interaction with your former spouse will be necessary. It is essential in successful co-parenting. Yet if you still harbor romantic feelings toward your ex or deep feelings of regret, it can be problematic. Some people find it necessary to stay away from their ex until they have a better grasp of their new situation. Here are some reasons to take that route:

Some people have the perception their divorce is going to be ugly, meaning there will be constant fights in the courtroom and extremely negative feelings between then and their ex-spouse. Divorce does not have to be constant warfare. Yes, emotions run high, and disagreements occur, but avoiding a contentious court battle can shield children from the unpleasantness and save time and money. Working together can also create a foundation for successful co-parenting.

Keeping these tips in mind can keep your divorce civil:

Working to help your child apply to college is not an easy process. Colleges are charging more than ever for tuition and other fees, so most need some type of financial aid. When students require financial aid for college, they are required to fill out forms and answer questions about income and family status. These questions can be tricky if you and your spouse are going through a divorce or are divorced. 

Here are some tips for helping your child apply for financial aid with your new family situation:

While it is well-known divorce can affect your mental and emotional well-being, one aspect of divorce often ignored is the potential effect it can have on your body. Maintaining good health in all aspects of your life is important for your overall happiness and ability to move on after divorce. Visiting your doctor for a checkup and making your physical health a priority can serve as a benefit as you go through the strenuous divorce process. 

A study by Duke University examined the effects of divorce on the heart health of women, and the results point to an increased risk of heart attack for divorced females. 

Most parents understandably worry about their children’s reaction to learning about their impending divorce. Divorce means unavoidable upheaval in the lives of everyone involved. Telling your children about your divorce is not something that should be done haphazardly. You should carefully plan and discuss how the conversation will happen with your spouse. If you follow a few simple tips, it can make the process easier on you and them. 

Do Not Play the Blame Game

If your divorce is especially contentious, it may be tempting to speak poorly of your soon-to-be ex-spouse and blame the dissolution of the marriage entirely on them. The children do not need to hear that, no matter how much you believe it to be true. Presenting a united front will help the children adjust more quickly to divorce. They can see both their parents being mature and handling the separation as well as possible. It also lessens the likelihood of them feeling they are the reason for the divorce or that they must side with one parent or the other. 

Marriage should be a partnership in which both parties enjoy spending time with one another. Couples do not have to be together constantly for a healthy marriage, and some alone time is good for each person so they can pursue interests by themselves. For many people, this includes video games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty. Some spouses have an issue with how often their significant other plays video games, especially Fortnite. If someone is playing video games too often, it can lead to serious problems in a marriage, and even divorce in some cases. 

Fortnite and Divorce

Fortnite’s massive surge in popularity has led to millions of people playing it all over the world each day. The game has become a pop culture sensation and has been played by more than 200 million people worldwide. Many people are addicted to the game, playing for hours and hours per day at the expense of other aspects of their life, including their marriage. 

Relationships can be wonderful if you are with the right person. Each situation is different, but there are some warning signs to keep in mind when in a relationship to make sure you are not with the wrong individual. 

If your marriage exhibits a combination of these behaviors, especially to an extreme degree, it may be time to reevaluate. Perhaps your spouse or partner has a reason for exhibiting these traits, but if there is a pattern and you feel you can no longer handle it, it may be time to end the relationship and initiate divorce proceedings. 

Divorces are often contentious and stressful for everyone involved, including any children you share with your ex-spouse. Throughout the divorce process, you have to determine child custody, visitation, spousal maintenance, and more. Unfortunately, sometimes the child’s other parent will attempt to subvert their love for you and turn them against you.

This practice is called parental alienation and is considered by many psychologists to be child abuse due to the manipulative nature of the act. If you do not realize what is happening and your child becomes alienated from you, there are steps you can take to try to repair the damage that was done to your relationship by your ex.

If you are going through a divorce and have children, there are many aspects which need to be worked out. Once the divorce process is complete, you and your ex-spouse will have to come up with a co-parenting plan for your children. 

Scheduling information, aspects of how you intend to raise your children, and communication about what happens in your child’s daily life are all important elements to consider as co-parents. Once you are divorced, it can become more difficult to do everything you need for your child, so a good co-parenting plan with your ex-spouse is critical to ensure they are raised the way you both would like. 

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many reasons. You may worry about what gifts to buy, or about the imminent political differences and judgmental family members at the holiday dinner table. 

Divorce can add a significant amount of stress during the holidays. This is especially true if you have children, and even more so if it is your first holiday season after the split from your ex-spouse. With these new factors in play, you likely have to coordinate visitation time and gift-giving with multiple families. If you keep a few key divorce tips in mind, it can make the holidays much easier for everyone involved.

Many people who are not happy in their marriage feel divorce is the right option for them. The divorce process often takes a lot of work, and mistakes happen from time to time as you go through a divorce case. It is important to limit those mistakes whenever possible, for your personal well-being.

Here are some frequent divorce mistakes to avert: 

Most divorces are difficult on both spouses, so you can expect your divorce case to bring significant stress. The divorce process can be lengthy and take a mental and physical toll, so it is important to learn how to get through it. 

If you allow stress to build up, it can seriously impact your overall health. Here are some proven ways to help ease the emotional burden:

The increase in the use of social media and the internet in general over the past decade has made people more dependent on technology. Using smartphones to browse the internet, read emails, and manage tasks is a commonplace part of our everyday lives. However, this reliance on technology, when combined with the increase in stress levels during divorce proceedings, may lead you to forget that technology can be used against you as well. Protecting yourself online during a divorce is an important step in making sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. 

What Are the Risks?

Couples will often share passwords for their various online accounts with each other, because this can be cheaper and more convenient than maintaining separate accounts. Whether these are bank accounts, credit cards, accounts with online retailers, shared calendars, or photo storage apps, shared accounts are a common aspect of many modern relationships.

During the process of a divorce, the relationship between spouses is often strained, and animosity can lead them to take actions to hurt each other. This can be as simple as changing the password on the family’s Netflix account or as damaging as making expensive purchases or withdrawing money from a shared bank account.

Going through a divorce can be a trying and emotionally draining time for anyone. Dealing with the logistics of a separation, from the division of assets to the allocation of parental responsibility, can represent unprecedented challenges. In many cases, those going through the divorce process can struggle with substance abuse, mental fatigue, and complete emotional exhaustion. 

While divorce represents a difficult challenge in anyone’s life, there are ways in which you can limit the emotional toll on you and your family. With that in mind, here are four helpful tips that can help you and your family cope during the divorce process. 

Self-Care Tips During Divorce 

As you work to separate your life from your ex-spouse, emotions are constantly fluctuating, and there are no shortages of unavoidable challenges. Still, there are some simple tactics that can help limit the emotional hardships you and your family face during a divorce: