How to Eat, Sleep, Detox, and Heal Your Way Through One of the Hardest Things You’ll Ever Do

Let’s face it: heartbreak and healing do not pair well with Uber Eats, double-shot lattes, and 2am Instagram scrolls.

But when your life has just imploded (hi, separation), the last thing you’re thinking about is nutrition or bedtime hygiene. You’re thinking about surviving. About holding it together in front of your kids. About answering texts with a smile emoji when you’re anything but okay.

I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve cried into a bowl of Coco Pops and called it dinner. But here’s the truth bomb: the fastest path to thriving again (not just surviving) is to treat your body like it’s your best friend—not a bin for stress snacks and wine.

Here’s how to survive divorce in a way your future self will thank you for:

Step One: Fuel your body (and not with beige carbs and tears)

Your body is under siege. Cortisol is high. Sleep is low. Which means the last thing it needs is to run on adrenaline and takeaway.

Start here:

1. Eat regularly. Your body likes rhythm—not accidental fasting because you forgot to eat. (And no, coffee doesn’t count as breakfast.)

2. Don’t skip meals or you’ll start chasing nutrients with sugar, caffeine or wine.

3. Cut back your crutches. Yep, we’re talking coffee, chai lattes, and that nightly glass of pinot that turned into two.

4. Hydrate—with H2O, just in case you needed a little more clarification :-). Your stress response generates toxins. Flush them out. Think of it as emotional spring cleaning—for your cells.

5. Try this skin-and-gut-loving morning drink:
   When I started drinking this each morning, I was in full survival mode—dull skin, puffy eyes, and that gnawing sense of blah that no concealer could cover. But a few days in, things started shifting. I felt a flicker of clarity, a glimmer of energy, a whisper of the old me waking up. It wasn’t a dramatic before-and-after story—but it was the first time I caught my reflection and thought, “There she is.”

   1 litre water
   3 tsp Vitamin C powder
   20ml lemon juice + 10ml lime juice
   10ml apple cider vinegar
   ½ tsp salt

Step Two: Reboot your sleep & space

You can’t heal if your nervous system is stuck in a constant state of red alert.
You need space—not just on your calendar, but in your body.

Create an environment that whispers, 'You’re safe now.'
Think fewer pings, more peace. Fewer fluorescent lights, more fairy lights.
Ditch the inbox energy and aim for candlelit sanctuary vibes.
Your body will get the memo—and start to melt, just a little.

1. Ditch the screens before bed. (Also, stalking your ex is not a sleep strategy. It’s a cortisol cocktail.)

2. Kick phones out of your bedroom. Replace them with an old-school alarm clock. Old-school peace > new-age stress.

3. Detox your sleep space. No devices, no EMF, no excuses. Your bedroom should feel like a sanctuary, not a second office.

4. Struggle to fall asleep? Try guided meditations (YouTube and apps like Headspace are gold), diffused essential oils, or a bath with calming blends. Lavender + magnesium flakes + Nora Jones = a sleep vibe.

True story: I once fell asleep mid-meditation on a yoga mat, next to a basket of unfolded laundry. It wasn’t Pinterest-worthy—but it worked.

Step Three: Say yes to self-care (the real kind)

This isn’t about bubble baths and cucumbers on your eyes—this is about being a human who needs looking after.

1. Book your checkups. Medical, dental, blood work. While you’re still on the family health plan, get it done. Adulting is self-care too.

2. Schedule some "me" time. Even if it’s one hour a week—ask for help and claim it. I used to hide in the car with a chai and a podcast. Ten out of ten, would recommend.

3. Move your body. Walk, stretch, breathe. Let those endorphins work their magic. Don’t underestimate the power of a 15-minute wander around the block with Beyoncé in your ears.

4. Make a gratitude list. It sounds small. It’s not. Gratitude shifts your biology and your mood. Write down three things, even if one of them is “my socks match today.”

5. Practice ocean-facing yoga. (Even if the ocean is miles away. It’s about intention. Or a beach YouTube background on your TV.) And here’s a tip—when doing your sun salutations (or any of these practices), always make a point of facing the ocean—even if it’s just in your imagination. Why? It’s all about negative ions. These little invisible wonders are found in abundance near mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. When we breathe them in, they spark a chemical reaction in the body that increases serotonin, lifts our mood, reduces stress, and gives our energy a much- needed boost. (WebMD backs this, by the way.)

Step Four: Support your mood with energy (and science)

The first time I realised energy was a thing—not in a woo-woo way, but in a real, goosebumps-on-your-skin kind of way—I was standing barefoot on dew-covered grass at sunrise. Everything inside me was loud and scrambled, but somehow, the silence out there made it quieter in here. It was the first time in weeks I felt like my shoulders weren’t up around my ears.

No, not energy drinks. We’re talking about the invisible stuff that actually changes how you feel.

1. Negative ions (found near oceans, waterfalls, and forests) increase serotonin, reduce stress, and boost energy. Think nature is just pretty? Turns out it’s medicine.

2. Boost your vibe intentionally. Light a candle. Put on music. Stand barefoot on the grass. Your nervous system will notice. Bonus points if it’s sunrise and you whisper a little mantra like, “I’m rebuilding—and it’s beautiful.”

I once sobbed in a eucalyptus grove. By the time I walked out, I felt like something had lifted. It wasn’t magic. It was energy. And it was free.

No, not energy drinks. We’re talking about the invisible stuff that actually changes how you feel.

1. Negative ions (found near oceans, waterfalls, and forests) increase serotonin, reduce stress, and boost energy. Think nature is just pretty? Turns out it’s medicine.

2. Boost your vibe intentionally. Light a candle. Put on music. Stand barefoot on the grass. Your nervous system will notice. Bonus points if it’s sunrise and you whisper a little mantra like, “I’m rebuilding—and it’s beautiful.”

I once sobbed in a eucalyptus grove. By the time I walked out, I felt like something had lifted. It wasn’t magic. It was energy. And it was free.

And remember...

Divorce can feel like the end of your story. But it’s actually just the messy, miraculous beginning of your next one. For me, it started with a very average Tuesday, a slightly overcooked stir fry, and a feeling—faint but fierce—that maybe, just maybe, I was going to be okay. No lightning bolts. No Oprah-a-ha moment. Just a quiet whisper of, 'There’s more coming.'

The next chapter doesn’t arrive with a string quartet and vision board. It sneaks in through the cracks—the new friend who makes you laugh again, the morning you don’t wake up dreading the day, the text you didn’t send to your ex. It arrives. And it’s yours to write—with bold ink and big-hearted hope.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need one good decision a day. One nourishing choice. One moment of peace.

If you’re just starting out on this journey—or feel like you're stuck at square one—start with my free guide:

🎁 10 First Steps in Divorce

And if you’re ready to get out of survival mode and back into your power, explore the 21-Day Emotional Freedom Program—a step-by-step guide to help you feel grounded, clear and back in charge of your life.

You’ve got this. And I’ve got you.

With love,
xx Annie
Founder | Hello Mojo