Grief is an overwhelming experience, with a whirlwind of emotions that scatter through, often changing from day to day. This process of grief and healing can be especially exhausting, both physically and mentally. Throughout those times of emotional and physical exhaustion in grief, taking care of your needs might fall to the wayside. Taking care of yourself and finding a routine of self care can be one of the most important things you can do on your journey to healing.
Finding the right options for self care can be difficult, but imperative to creating balance on your path. Here is a small list of ideas to help you get started or expand your options.
1. Allow Yourself to Honor Your Feelings
Give yourself permission and the time to feel your feelings. Remember there is no judgment for your feelings – there are no “right” or “wrong” feelings throughout the grieving process. Creating a safe space for yourself to process your emotions can allow you to release them in a healthy way.
2. Make Rest a Priority
Along with the emotions that come with grief, you may also notice physical symptoms that could include fatigue, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, or headaches. Creating and maintaining a regular sleep schedule can let your body recharge. If you are unable to sleep, lying down or resting during your regular sleeping hours can allow your body to replenish energy.
3. Nourish your Body
While your appetite or interest in eating food or drinking water might be limited, it is important to fuel your body with as much nutrition as you can. If you’re finding cooking to be overwhelming or tiring, try to simple recipes or comforting foods, or let friends or family help with meal prep. It’s okay to start small and go at a pace that feels manageable while providing your body with the food that it needs for fuel.
4. Practice Gentle Movement
Gentle movement during times of grief can help us feel lighter in a period when your body might feel heavy. Simple activities such as walking in nature, trying yoga or stretching, or practicing deep breathing can promote a release of emotions and tightness that has been building up. This might also inspire a sense of calmness and peace during an unsettling time.
5. Explore Options for Professional Help
Healing during a time that can feel isolating and lonely can be challenging especially if you are trying to do it alone. The good news is that you can turn to a trusted friend, finding a support group to meet people with a similar need, or finding a qualified therapist to connect with others.
6. Make Quiet Time for Reflection
Walking on your path of healing can often bring moments of feeling overwhelmed. Finding time to sit in the quiet and find a moment of peace can be difficult on a day to day basis. You can foster an environment of peace through meditation, grief journaling, walking or sitting in nature, and allowing your mind to be slow down and reflect. This can allow you to process your grief in moments that are comfortable and grounding, and can help you connect with yourself as well as with your loved one you’re missing.
7. Foster a Space for Creativity to Express Yourself
Creativity can give you a safe space to process your emotions and can often feel very therapeutic during grief. Drawing, writing, painting, making music, creating memory boxes, or making a scrapbook to remember your loved one are all examples of expressing yourself either privately or to share with others.
8. Be Gentle and Kind with yourself
While grief is constant, it can also be very difficult and unpredictable. Your emotions might change day to day, or minute by minute. Giving yourself grace, recognizing your emotions are valid, and finding safe spaces to breathe and process at your own pace are all important parts of your healing journey.
As you continue on your healing journey, remember to take it day by day, and create a space that feels right and safe to you. There are no right and wrong feelings, or an appropriate timeline to “get over it” as people might expect. Remember that each small step you to take to caring for yourself is a big step forward in your healing process.
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