Divorce is never easy. However, that doesn’t mean yours has to be actively hostile. Yes, emotions are high during this trying time, but you can do many things to ensure an amicable divorce. Here are five tips to help keep things from boiling over.

1. Hold Your Tongue

It’s natural to lash out when someone says something that rubs you the wrong way or that you feel is untrue. During a divorce, that can ratchet up tensions dramatically, though. Try to hold your tongue and avoid rising to the bait. This is particularly true if children are involved. Your kids should never hear you badmouthing the other parent.

2. Set Realistic Expectations

An amicable divorce does not necessarily equate to a simple one. It’s a complex process; the more assets you have, the more complicated the process becomes, but you and your soon-to-be ex have at least some control over that. Have realistic expectations going into the process, particularly regarding asset division, especially if most of your assets are considered marital property.

3. Treat Each Other with Respect

It may be hard to achieve this goal depending on the circumstances surrounding your divorce. However, if you can, it makes everything else easier. Treating each other with respect doesn’t have to mean giving the other spouse their own way. It just means listening to each other talk with the goal of understanding rather than responding. It means not letting your emotions take control and staying in a positive frame of mind.

4. Realize Your Marital Breakdown Affects Everyone – Your Ex Included

It’s easy to get wrapped up in our own stress and misery but remember that your spouse is also affected by the looming divorce. You’re in this together, even if you’re taking steps to dissolve most of the ties that make it so. Focus on having compassion for your spouse throughout, even when that is hard to do.

5. Focus on the Real Goal

If you’ve committed to disentangling your lives, then there is just one goal here – to come out the other side of the divorce process amicably, with the most equitable outcome possible for both parties.

With the right mindset and the realization that both of you are deeply affected by the impending divorce, it becomes easier to separate amicably. Other tools, like mediation, can also help ensure an equitable outcome to this challenging period of your life. If you should have any questions, reach out to the experts at Resolvium-Divorce Mediation today!