It’s no secret that divorce can take a toll on you. The constant fighting and changing your entire lifestyle as you become single again may leave you drained.If you take care of yourself right now, you will be setting yourself up for a better start at the end of the divorce process.

You don’t have to go it alone

It may feel like you have to handle your entire divorce by yourself, since it is between you and your spouse. But there are people who can help. Reach out to your friends and family and let them know that you need support.

If you don’t think that the people close to you will understand, there are support groups that can help as well. In these groups, are people who are going through—or have already gone through—the same thing as you. They may understand how you feel better than people who have never dealt with divorce.

Make some positive changes

You may need to sort out a new schedule with your children, a new place to live or even a new job if you were a stay-at-home parent before. All these shifts can be overwhelming—but you can also make fun changes too. Some ways to refresh your life during or after your divorce are to:

• Start going to the gym
• Change something in your home—such as furniture or paint colors
• Take up a new hobby
• Go on a vacation

You are allowed to take care of yourself too as you figure out your new lifestyle. Whether the changes you make are temporary or permanent, they can help you remember that life goes on after your divorce.

Your divorce will most likely be challenging no matter what—but you can lay the foundation of good mental health right now. If you take better care of yourself now, you could improve your post-divorce life as well.