{"id":16007,"date":"2020-09-12T18:43:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-12T17:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/?p=16007"},"modified":"2023-05-17T16:54:13","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T15:54:13","slug":"too-tired-to-divorce-heres-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/too-tired-to-divorce-heres-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Too tired to divorce? Here\u2019s what to do"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.20.4&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;justify&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#c5b2b1&#8243; header_2_text_align=&#8221;justify&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#c984a4&#8243; header_3_text_align=&#8221;justify&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#c5b2b1&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;justified&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h1>Too tired to divorce? Here\u2019s what to do<\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too tired to divorce? At the start of lockdown did you think waiting until September was the right idea? September often has that \u2018new year\u2019 feel to it. This year the changes are even more striking. Children are back to school after six months. The world feels like it\u2019s turning again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So new year, new you, right?\u00a0 Lockdown has shown you you\u2019ve had enough of your marriage (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/five-signs-youve-had-enough-of-your-marriage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">find out it that\u2019s you here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Once and for all. So time to get cracking. But what if you\u2019re too tired to divorce?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This blog takes a look at that tiredness. We see why it\u2019s happening, why it\u2019s understandable and what to do about it. In small, bite-size chunks &#8211; so even the most exhausted can start to take action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"are_you_too_tired_to_divorce\"><\/span>Are you too tired to divorce?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This time of year brings it\u2019s own pressure. Maybe it\u2019s pressure you\u2019ve put on yourself. You\u2019ve been holding it together all through lockdown and summer, thinking autumn\u2019s the time to make changes. But now \u2013 you\u2019re on the floor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or maybe you\u2019re under pressure from others. Perhaps your boss has turned the heat up now things are more \u2018normal\u2019. Or maybe the new routines of school and work are eating into your time and energy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"here_are_3_clues_youre_experiencing_extreme_fatigue\"><\/span>Here are 3 clues you\u2019re experiencing extreme fatigue<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_thought_of_change_is_both_enticing_and_impossible\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thought of change is both enticing and impossible<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You long for a life where things are different. But that mountain feels too high and too hard. Do even see the mountain?\u00a0 There\u2019s so much current stress in the way. You know your life isn\u2019t what you want. But doing something about it is too overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"youve_nothing_left_to_give\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve nothing left to give<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you end up on the sofa at 9 pm zoning out in front of a series you\u2019re not even that bothered about? Are you beating yourself up because you \u2018should\u2019 be doing something more productive? Or an email about PE kit from school has you in tears? Stop beating yourself up. You\u2019re exhausted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_whole_world_feels_grey\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The whole world feels grey<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When things feel too hard to change, and we hate parts of our life, everything feels flat. The world turns grey. Which saps our energy even more. That same old routine, dragging us down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"youre_not_a_failure_if_youre_tired\"><\/span>You\u2019re not a failure if you\u2019re tired<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m a coach. So this where I tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get on with it, right?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrong. Your tiredness doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ve failed. It doesn\u2019t mean you just ignore it, pick yourself up and skip on. It means you\u2019re tired. And that\u2019s ok. It needs recognising. Allow yourself to be tired. You\u2019re feeling too tired for divorce. And right now, that\u2019s what it is. It\u2019s understandable \u2013 you\u2019ve got plates spinning, people counting on you, life pressing in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it\u2019s not the end of this story. It\u2019s just the beginning of a new one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"heres_the_truth_about_tiredness\"><\/span>Here\u2019s the truth about tiredness<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being in an unhappy marriage is exhausting. It\u2019s exhausting because you know it\u2019s not right for you. And that voice in your head isn\u2019t going anywhere. However much you push it back or scratch \u2018research divorce\u2019 from your to-do list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s the sort of tiredness from having too much on your plate.\u00a0 You know what this feels like. Women especially are raised to be wonder women, with the whole world depending on us. So it\u2019s easy to get into situations where there\u2019s nothing left for you. We\u2019ll talk about how to deal with that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s another sort of tiredness. You probably know this one too. It\u2019s the sort of tiredness created when we\u2019re not living the life we want. We are plodding through, being functional. Taking care of others\u2019 needs. Paying the bills. All the time-draining our energy. We\u2019re exhausted by the circumstances we\u2019re in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And here\u2019s the truth about tiredness. If you\u2019re in an unhappy marriage, staying is only going to make you more tired.\u00a0 You might think it\u2019s sensible to put things off until life gets easier. But when will that be? Your life won\u2019t feel any more energising until you are doing the things that give you energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"so_youre_too_tired_to_divorce_what_now\"><\/span>So you\u2019re too tired to divorce. What now?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you recognise yourself here, don\u2019t panic! You are not stuck in a marriage or life you can\u2019t stand. But you can\u2019t bulldoze your way out of this either \u2013 you\u2019re exhausted and that\u2019s the reality. So you need to work with that. Go gently. Here are some practical steps you can take to get ready for divorce. Even if you\u2019re on your knees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"lower_your_standards\"><\/span>Lower your standards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We get used to how things are. We always clear our inbox or we always do the laundry on Wednesdays, whatever it is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want you to take yourself to a different place (away from home or your office) and think about all the commitments you have. Take a journal and write them down to get them out of your head. Who has created those commitments? And who says they have to be done the way they are now? Is it your expectations or someone else\u2019s?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is there anything that simply doesn\u2019t need to happen anymore? Do you have to walk the neighbour\u2019s dog each weekend? Is it crucial you attend that work meeting? Do you have to provide the refreshments at book group?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lockdown showed us that many of the things we thought had to be a particular way work fine done differently. If you have tasks you can\u2019t drop, want can you do more easily? Still have to attend the meeting &#8211; can you do it by zoom? If you still have to provide the refreshments, grab something from the shop rather than spend hours baking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"delegate\"><\/span>Delegate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re trained to be superwomen so it can feel hard to reach out for help. Or we assume that others can\u2019t do it as well as us. But what if there was space in your life for other people to take on tasks for you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can afford it \u2013 pay someone to do the jobs you hate. If you can\u2019t, collectivise. Could you alternate school runs with a neighbour to buy you some time each week? What about drawing up a rota for the book club? Could someone else handle the emails at work? Often, by being superwomen we disempower those around us. So don\u2019t feel guilty. You\u2019re lifting people up by letting them in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"reignite_you\"><\/span>Reignite you<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re the sort of tired that comes from being drained by life, you need to change your life. That might sound daunting. But this doesn\u2019t need to be huge. Just doing something for five minutes a day that you enjoy can make a difference. It\u2019s like opening a window \u2013 let the fresh air in and smell the possibility of change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can you do that\u2019s genuinely nourishing and\/or fun? Start small. Read a book you enjoy. Go for a walk. Make a cup of tea and sit listening to music that lifts you. Laugh with a friend. Think back to how you felt pre-marriage, and what you loved to do. What can you reintroduce from those times? Even if you have to adapt how you do it? Reconnect with the person who loves life and build on that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"get_support\"><\/span>Get support<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your too tired to divorce, get support. One of the biggest mistakes my clients make is trying to do everything alone. Humans are social creatures. We are wired to connect and support. And 21<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">st<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century living is complex. We all have different areas of knowledge, responsibilities, skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So don\u2019t do this alone. This applies x100 if you are exhausted. Get the help you need. We\u2019ve already looked at ways to get practical help. Pay for it or reach out to friends and ask for meals, or childcare, or whatever you know will support you best.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get emotional help. A coach, like me, provides a confidential place to talk, and to help you untangle your thinking. I can also help you make decisions and plan a way forward. Know which friends you can trust. You want them to provide space for you right now, not share their skewed advice or project their own experiences on you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In time you will probably need legal or financial help. But get yourself to a place where you know what you\u2019re asking for first. That means knowing what you want, and knowing where you are now. You can read more about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/when-should-i-contact-a-divorce-solicitor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when to instruct a solicitor here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"prepare_to_be_organised\"><\/span>Prepare to be organised<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to make space in your life for your divorce. That way it won\u2019t be yet another demanding thing on your to-do list. It will be part of how you are living life now, to get to the life you want.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you do this? By creating physical space. You are going to need to get organised, so get ready to get organised. Create filing space, buy folders, label things. Have designated places to store paperwork (digitally as well) so you can make life as simple as possible for yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further down the line there is a world of difference between stressing about where you put that solicitor\u2019s letter and knowing exactly where you can lay your hands on it. Take it step by step. Get organised about getting organised. Even if you prefer chaos and spontaneity in other areas of your life. Trust me \u2013 here you need to file!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"do_your_research\"><\/span>Do your research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My Amazon bestseller \u2018How To Be A Lady Who Leaves\u2019 has everything you need to know. From making the decision to divorce, to how to manage the paperwork. Readers have said it\u2019s like having a wise friend in their home to talk everything through. So if you do nothing else, get yourself a copy and know you\u2019ve got a powerful tool to help you through. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-be-a-lady-who-leaves-book-3rd-edition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can buy yours here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want support getting your head around divorce, I\u2019m here for you. Later in autumn I will be running Get Divorce Ready. It\u2019s an 8-week programme walking you through exactly what you need to do, in what order, to get your divorce moving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you want to work on a private basis I offer a range of options to give you the confidential support you need, exactly as you want it. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact me<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so we can chat about what\u2019s right for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"about_emma\"><\/span>About Emma<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/about-me-emma-heptonstall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Emma Heptonstall,<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0the Divorce Alchemist is author of the Amazon best selling book\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/How-Be-Lady-Who-Leaves\/dp\/1999631501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>How to be a Lady Who Leaves, the Ultimate Guide to Getting Divorce Ready<\/strong><\/a>. A former lawyer, Emma is a family mediator and founder of Get Divorce Ready the online self-study and group programmes. Emma has been featured on BBC Radio, The Telegraph, the iPaper and in Marie Claire Magazine. To find out more visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>www.emmaheptonstall.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Too tired to divorce? Here\u2019s what to do &nbsp; Too tired to divorce? At the start of lockdown did you think waiting until September was the right idea? September often has that \u2018new year\u2019 feel to it. This year the changes are even more striking. Children are back to school after six months. The world [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<h1>Too tired to divorce? Here\u2019s what to do<\/h1><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too tired to divorce? At the start of lockdown did you think waiting until September was the right idea? September often has that \u2018new year\u2019 feel to it. This year the changes are even more striking. Children are back to school after six months. The world feels like it\u2019s turning again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So new year, new you, right?\u00a0 Lockdown has shown you you\u2019ve had enough of your marriage (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/five-signs-youve-had-enough-of-your-marriage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">find out it that\u2019s you here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Once and for all. So time to get cracking. But what if you\u2019re too tired to divorce?<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This blog takes a look at that tiredness. We see why it\u2019s happening, why it\u2019s understandable and what to do about it. In small, bite-size chunks - so even the most exhausted can start to take action.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Are you too tired to divorce?<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This time of year brings it\u2019s own pressure. Maybe it\u2019s pressure you\u2019ve put on yourself. You\u2019ve been holding it together all through lockdown and summer, thinking autumn\u2019s the time to make changes. But now \u2013 you\u2019re on the floor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or maybe you\u2019re under pressure from others. Perhaps your boss has turned the heat up now things are more \u2018normal\u2019. Or maybe the new routines of school and work are eating into your time and energy.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Here are 3 clues you\u2019re experiencing extreme fatigue<\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thought of change is both enticing and impossible<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You long for a life where things are different. But that mountain feels too high and too hard. Do even see the mountain?\u00a0 There\u2019s so much current stress in the way. You know your life isn\u2019t what you want. But doing something about it is too overwhelming.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve nothing left to give<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you end up on the sofa at 9 pm zoning out in front of a series you\u2019re not even that bothered about? Are you beating yourself up because you \u2018should\u2019 be doing something more productive? Or an email about PE kit from school has you in tears? Stop beating yourself up. You\u2019re exhausted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The whole world feels grey<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When things feel too hard to change, and we hate parts of our life, everything feels flat. The world turns grey. Which saps our energy even more. That same old routine, dragging us down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>You\u2019re not a failure if you\u2019re tired<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m a coach. So this where I tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get on with it, right?<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrong. Your tiredness doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ve failed. It doesn\u2019t mean you just ignore it, pick yourself up and skip on. It means you\u2019re tired. And that\u2019s ok. It needs recognising. Allow yourself to be tired. You\u2019re feeling too tired for divorce. And right now, that\u2019s what it is. It\u2019s understandable \u2013 you\u2019ve got plates spinning, people counting on you, life pressing in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it\u2019s not the end of this story. It\u2019s just the beginning of a new one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Here\u2019s the truth about tiredness<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being in an unhappy marriage is exhausting. It\u2019s exhausting because you know it\u2019s not right for you. And that voice in your head isn\u2019t going anywhere. However much you push it back or scratch \u2018research divorce\u2019 from your to-do list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s the sort of tiredness from having too much on your plate.\u00a0 You know what this feels like. Women especially are raised to be wonder women, with the whole world depending on us. So it\u2019s easy to get into situations where there\u2019s nothing left for you. We\u2019ll talk about how to deal with that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s another sort of tiredness. You probably know this one too. It\u2019s the sort of tiredness created when we\u2019re not living the life we want. We are plodding through, being functional. Taking care of others\u2019 needs. Paying the bills. All the time-draining our energy. We\u2019re exhausted by the circumstances we\u2019re in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And here\u2019s the truth about tiredness. If you\u2019re in an unhappy marriage, staying is only going to make you more tired.\u00a0 You might think it\u2019s sensible to put things off until life gets easier. But when will that be? Your life won\u2019t feel any more energising until you are doing the things that give you energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>So you\u2019re too tired to divorce. What now?<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you recognise yourself here, don\u2019t panic! You are not stuck in a marriage or life you can\u2019t stand. But you can\u2019t bulldoze your way out of this either \u2013 you\u2019re exhausted and that\u2019s the reality. So you need to work with that. Go gently. Here are some practical steps you can take to get ready for divorce. Even if you\u2019re on your knees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Lower your standards<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We get used to how things are. We always clear our inbox or we always do the laundry on Wednesdays, whatever it is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want you to take yourself to a different place (away from home or your office) and think about all the commitments you have. Take a journal and write them down to get them out of your head. Who has created those commitments? And who says they have to be done the way they are now? Is it your expectations or someone else\u2019s?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is there anything that simply doesn\u2019t need to happen anymore? Do you have to walk the neighbour\u2019s dog each weekend? Is it crucial you attend that work meeting? Do you have to provide the refreshments at book group?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lockdown showed us that many of the things we thought had to be a particular way work fine done differently. If you have tasks you can\u2019t drop, want can you do more easily? Still have to attend the meeting - can you do it by zoom? If you still have to provide the refreshments, grab something from the shop rather than spend hours baking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Delegate<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re trained to be superwomen so it can feel hard to reach out for help. Or we assume that others can\u2019t do it as well as us. But what if there was space in your life for other people to take on tasks for you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can afford it \u2013 pay someone to do the jobs you hate. If you can\u2019t, collectivise. Could you alternate school runs with a neighbour to buy you some time each week? What about drawing up a rota for the book club? Could someone else handle the emails at work? Often, by being superwomen we disempower those around us. So don\u2019t feel guilty. You\u2019re lifting people up by letting them in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Reignite you<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re the sort of tired that comes from being drained by life, you need to change your life. That might sound daunting. But this doesn\u2019t need to be huge. Just doing something for five minutes a day that you enjoy can make a difference. It\u2019s like opening a window \u2013 let the fresh air in and smell the possibility of change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can you do that\u2019s genuinely nourishing and\/or fun? Start small. Read a book you enjoy. Go for a walk. Make a cup of tea and sit listening to music that lifts you. Laugh with a friend. Think back to how you felt pre-marriage, and what you loved to do. What can you reintroduce from those times? Even if you have to adapt how you do it? Reconnect with the person who loves life and build on that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Get support<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest mistakes my clients make is trying to do everything alone. Humans are social creatures. We are wired to connect and support. And 21<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">st<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century living is complex. We all have different areas of knowledge, responsibilities, skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So don\u2019t do this alone. This applies x100 if you are exhausted. Get the help you need. We\u2019ve already looked at ways to get practical help. Pay for it or reach out to friends and ask for meals, or childcare, or whatever you know will support you best.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get emotional help. A coach, like me, provides a confidential place to talk, and to help you untangle your thinking. I can also help you make decisions and plan a way forward. Know which friends you can trust. You want them to provide space for you right now, not share their skewed advice or project their own experiences on you.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In time you will probably need legal or financial help. But get yourself to a place where you know what you\u2019re asking for first. That means knowing what you want, and knowing where you are now. You can read more about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/when-should-i-contact-a-divorce-solicitor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when to instruct a solicitor here.<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Prepare to be organised<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to make space in your life for your divorce. That way it won\u2019t be yet another demanding thing on your to-do list. It will be part of how you are living life now, to get to the life you want.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you do this? By creating physical space. You are going to need to get organised, so get ready to get organised. Create filing space, buy folders, label things. Have designated places to store paperwork (digitally as well) so you can make life as simple as possible for yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further down the line there is a world of difference between stressing about where you put that solicitor\u2019s letter and knowing exactly where you can lay your hands on it. Take it step by step. Get organised about getting organised. Even if you prefer chaos and spontaneity in other areas of your life. Trust me \u2013 here you need to file!\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2>Do your research<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My Amazon bestseller \u2018How To Be A Lady Who Leaves\u2019 has everything you need to know. From making the decision to divorce, to how to manage the paperwork. Readers have said it\u2019s like having a wise friend in their home to talk everything through. So if you do nothing else, get yourself a copy and know you\u2019ve got a powerful tool to help you through. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/product\/lady-leaves-book\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can buy yours here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want support getting your head around divorce, I\u2019m here for you. Later in autumn I will be running Get Divorce Ready. It\u2019s an 8-week programme walking you through exactly what you need to do, in what order, to get your divorce moving. You can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/getdivorcereadywaitlist\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">find out more and join the waitlist here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you want to work on a private basis I offer a range of options to give you the confidential support you need, exactly as you want it. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact me<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so we can chat about what\u2019s right for you.<\/span><\/p><h2>About Emma<\/h2><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/about-me-emma-heptonstall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Emma Heptonstall,<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0the Divorce Alchemist is author of the Amazon best selling book\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/How-Be-Lady-Who-Leaves\/dp\/1999631501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>How to be a Lady Who Leaves, the Ultimate Guide to Getting Divorce Ready<\/strong><\/a>. A former lawyer, Emma is a family mediator and founder of Get Divorce Ready the online self-study and group programmes. Emma has been featured on BBC Radio, The Telegraph, the iPaper and in Marie Claire Magazine. To find out more visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>www.emmaheptonstall.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12,397],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-divorce-support","category-divorce-self-care"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6aDhr-4ab","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Copy-of-EH_BlogImage-27.png?fit=1000%2C516&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}