The finality of death can almost feel too great to overcome. It weighs you down and affects every part of your life. That feeling of loss leaves enormous emptiness and pain that might seem impossible to heal. You’re feeling a whole roller coaster of emotions with pain, loss, anger and loneliness replacing the happiness you once felt. There’s no right or wrong way to feel after the death of a loved one but there are some things you can do that may help make the grieving period easier on your physical and mental health.
Do What You Love
You may feel guilty in the beginning but getting back to doing the things you love will get easier in time. Start slowly by introducing your favorite hobbies back into your routine. If you love cycling but feel like it would take a lot out of you physically, why not invest in an e-bike? You can ride without the need to pedal and still enjoy the freedom of the open road and the wind in your hair.
If the movies are where you used to spend your Friday nights, why not make a pact to go once a month? Perhaps you lived for live music events? Check to see if there are any upcoming gigs in your local area. The sooner you get back doing the things you enjoy, the sooner you’ll start to feel a glimmer of your old self coming back.
Know That It’s Ok to Feel the Way You Do
We all experience grief differently and the emotions you’re feeling right now might not be the same as the other people in your life who are also grieving. Whether you feel sad, lonely, frustrated, angry or regretful, know that it’s ok to feel the way you do. Know that there’s no time limit on your emotions so don’t be feeling under pressure to change the way you feel.
Take Care of Yourself
It can be easy to slip into a bad routine of eating unhealthy food and barely exercising when you’re so focused on how you’re feeling inside. Try not to fall too deep into this trap as it can be very hard to break these habits. Self-care should be something you’re focused on as it’s the state of your physical and mental health that will determine what kind of a person you will be when you emerge from this period in your life.
Think about what makes you feel good and what does not. Going to work can be a great distraction for some people whilst others would prefer to be tucked up in bed. Are there certain people in your life that make you feel good and optimistic about the future? Are you taking on too much in your personal life? These are all things to think about.
Share Memories
Keep the memory of your loved one alive by sharing the amazing memories you have of your time together. Some memories may be very hard to even think about whilst others will make you feel so grateful and happy that you got to share a part of your life with that person. Don’t be afraid to open up and share those memories with other people in your life as you’d never know how talking openly can help someone else who may be struggling too.
Updated:
