Divorce is never easy, in fact, it can be quite traumatic. There are lots of emotions endured by both spouses that might include feelings of devastation, guilt, grief, denial, depression, rejection, and abandonment. During this difficult period, one hardly ever thinks of "organizing" because it just seems too overwhelming of a task with the entire emotional and physical trauma that is endured. But through thoughtful organization, it can bring a sense of accomplishment, "clearing out the clutter," in other words...bringing order to a chaotic situation.
The purpose of this “divorce binder” is to gather/organize/review legal,
spiritual/inspirational, motivational and practical resources necessary to help
the newly separated/divorced individual cope in the beginning stages of this
most difficult period.
However, it is during this period when some might “tune out" the rest of the
world, avoiding everyday activities like checking mail, paying bills, calling
friends, initiating the legal process and so on. It is IMPERATIVE during the
beginning stages of separation/divorce that you pay close attention to these
details, because the reality of the situation is that you now need to get in
“survival mode” by taking care of your emotional, personal, financial and legal
affairs before they spiral out of control. This binder will aid you in regaining
control while creating a valuable resource that you can refer to quickly and
efficiently. It can also be used as a memorable tool for chronicling, which can
be of great benefit towards your healing process in the future.
Getting Started
Materials you will need:Three-Ring Binder (preferably 2 inch or
larger);Double pocket dividers;Write-On Tab Dividers;Table of
Contents (Index)Page;Three-Hole Punch;Lined 8 ½ x 11 White Paper
Organize the binder into five (5) sections. Write/print on the tabs AND table
of contents page with the following:
Attach about four or five double pocket dividers in each section for loose,
accompanying paperwork as well as a generous amount of plain paper for
note-taking. Make sure to keep your notes within the appropriate sections for
easy referral.