It’s unrealistic to expect a divorce to be plain sailing. There will always be some bumps in the road, and in many cases, a whole lot of stress, guilt, disagreement and more which can make it an experience you never want to repeat.
However, there are things you can do to make it as easy as possible. Here are three of them:
Talk to each other
Your spouse probably did not want things to end up this way any more than you did. However much you might dislike each other right now, you probably had some good times together, and if you dig deep enough, may still have some respect or fondness for each other.
Drawing on that could give you the strength to communicate openly with each other about your wishes and needs, and even your regrets and help move the divorce forward faster and with less damage.
(Note that some relationships may be at the point where it’s better to keep communication to a minimum or only do so through your legal representatives.)
Plan for the future
Knowing where you are going can help you set goals when negotiating over finances and custody. For instance, if your goal is to jump-start the career you put to one side, then you may need spousal support to fund retraining, and you might want to split parental time more evenly to give you time to study and then work.
Consider mediation
A qualified mediator can facilitate negotiations and help you reach agreements on important issues like child custody, property division, and financial matters. It can lead to more amicable and mutually satisfactory resolutions, and speed the whole process up.
Each divorce is of course unique. Consider help to learn more about what could make your divorce simpler.