If you’ve recently been through a major emotional upheaval, it can be hard to get back to living your life as you did before.
But, moving forward from your loss and finding your new sense of normal is crucial to ensuring your future wellbeing.
If you’re finding coping with loss and grief challenging, try these six tips to help you start to process your emotions and find peace:
1. Deal With Practical Things First
A good first step in moving forward with your life after a traumatic loss is to focus on any practical matters that need to be handled.
Depending on your situation, this could include things like filing insurance claims, hiring an executor, closing bank accounts, or consulting with a personal injury law firm.
By putting your focus on completing these essential tasks, you’ll be ensuring you’re minimizing the stress of a stressful situation as much as possible.
Additionally, the simple act of completing necessary chores can often help you to feel more in control of a hard situation when dealing with grief.
2. Spend Time With Friends
Never underestimate the importance of support from your social circle when you’re coping with grief and loss.
Friends can provide much-needed compassion and understanding when you’re dealing with a difficult situation.
If you’re feeling up for it, make plans for social activities like dinner or a movie night. Or, simply schedule some coffee dates where you can talk and connect with the people you care about.
Having meaningful conversations with people you trust can help you process your feelings in a safe environment.
3. Exercise Regularly
Many people lose their motivation when dealing with grief, but forcing yourself to get up and moving is crucial when it comes to ensuring both your physical and mental health.
Not only will an exercise routine help relieve stress and anxiety, it can also boost your energy levels and help improve your mood.
Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated—you could start with something as simple as taking a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood each day.
4. Get Enough Sleep
As with exercising, getting enough sleep can seem like a hard thing to do for many people when dealing with grief.
But, not getting enough sleep can make it even harder to manage your stress and handle your emotions.
Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night. If you find you’re having trouble falling asleep, consider implementing a simple yoga or meditation routine before bed.
And, if natural solutions aren’t helping you get the sleep you need, consulting with your healthcare professional is always a smart move.
5. Take Up a Hobby
If coping with loss and grief has also left you uninterested in activities you used to enjoy, the timing may be right to try a brand new hobby.
Having a new activity to throw yourself into can help restore a love of learning, and having a creative outlet is a good way to help focus your mind on something other than your loss.
Consider options like gardening, painting, reading, or learning how to play an instrument. Try to choose a hobby that you’re likely to enjoy, so that it can become a part of your daily routine.
6. Take Time For Yourself
Finally, taking time for yourself is essential when trying to recover your sense of self after coping with grief and loss.
If you’re seriously struggling, this may mean taking time off work, moving to a new area, or finding a professional to support you through your grief.
But, taking time for yourself can also be done in smaller ways, by indulging in simple self-care activities like going for a massage, ordering your favorite takeout, or decorating your home with some fresh flowers.
Taking time to focus on yourself and what you need to feel better is important when dealing with grief, as it will help you learn what small steps you can take to help yourself move forward.
There’s no one right way to react to a major loss in life, and there’s no one right way to move forward and recover from the pain, either.
Try a few different things, if needed, to let you discover the best way to handle your pain and start towards a more emotionally healthy future.
Some people have a harder time than others getting back on their feet, so don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it.
Remember that it is ok to take some time to heal before resuming your life. There is no timeline for grief or recovery from a loss, so be gentle with yourself and focus on what works best for you as an individual.