If your marriage is heading for an inevitable end, you may have some conflict in your relationship. Still, conflict may not be good for anyone in the family, including your kids. By avoiding unnecessary conflict during your divorce, you may build a healthy post-divorce future for you and your children.
While participating in divorce mediation or another type of alternate dispute resolution may help you keep divorce-related conflict in check, how you communicate with your soon-to-be ex-spouse may also make a difference. Here are three communication strategies that may help you minimize conflict during your divorce.
1. Communicate in writing
If you and your husband or wife have a history of escalating verbal arguments, communicating in writing may take the edge off your disagreements. Additionally, written communications give you and your spouse an immediate record, helping to keep everyone on the same page.
2. Think before you communicate
During your divorce, it may be tempting to respond to every insult or complaint your spouse lodges. Doing so, though, may expend emotional energy on things that simply do not matter in the long run. By thinking before you communicate, you both control your emotions and maintain focus on important divorce-related issues.
3. Stay away from social media
If you use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or another social media platform, you may want to blow off some steam by posting about your spouse’s outrageous behaviors. Still, anything you write online may become part of your divorce record.
If you do not want your husband or wife to use your posts against you, it is probably a good idea to steer clear of social media until your divorce concludes. After all, while your divorce may consume a great deal of your emotional energy, it will not last forever.