Navigating Daily Life While You’re Grieving
When we are navigating “planet grief” through daily life it can be difficult to know how to keep going. Grief can feel like life is moving in slow motion. So we wanted to review some helpful tips to support your grief and yourself while navigating daily life as someone who is grieving.
Recognizing It’s Ok to Not Be Ok
Step one is releasing any judgment or expectation you have of your grief. Grief is a rollercoaster that we cannot predict. So allowing yourself the space to grieve in the ways your heart and mind need is an essential piece of the grief process.
Boundaries
Along with recognizing your emotions, having helpful boundaries is also a key part of giving yourself the space you need. For example, maybe it is stepping away for a 10 min break at work to practice a mindfulness skill or cry it out. Maybe it is a self boundary of recognizing when it is time to take a mental health day and get outdoors. Whatever the boundaries are, they are there to support you so communicating them to the right people is a helpful way to be less overwhelmed while grieving.
Communicate!
We understand that grief can prompt people to want to shut down and be silent. But communicating is another way to get what you need in order to meet your grief. It could be asking for someone else to decide on your lunch plans because you are experiencing decision fatigue. Or maybe it is requesting that someone doesn’t frame your grief in a certain way such asa through a religious lens. Whatever it is, communicating your wants, needs and boundaries are all helpful things to let other people know how to best support your grief journey.
Self Care is Essential
Read that again! Self care is not just about the lovely spa day that you should definitely consider booking to help yourself grieve. It is also eating, sleeping, hygiene, getting outside, taking a mental health day, going to therapy, and many other important support factors. If you are feeling unmotivated to do some of these things, try to start with the basics such as eating, hydrating and self hygiene. From there add something small such as getting outside for 20 minutes a day. Maybe schedule that spa day two weeks out so you know it is there and can mentally prepare to go. Whatever works for you, make sure your self care is staying steady through your grief process. Self care is not a luxury, it is an essential part of how we show care to ourselves!
Tap Into Your Support System
Big or small, it doesn’t matter- we all need support! Whether you are starting at square 1 with your therapist as your first form of support, you can slowly build up your support system over time with other trusted people in your life. Supportive people tend to know your habits and patterns, so they might be able to notice when your slipping into mental health symptoms that are hindering your wellness. If you are a friend reading this, check in on your friend who is grieving throughout the week. Maybe ask to go to lunch, go for a walk, or do an at home project.
Honor Your Grief and Loved One
As many us of who have to navigate grief understand, it is not going away. So how can you honor the loved one who has passed away? What are small ways you can keep them in your life, just in a different way then when they were physically present? Maybe it is keeping photos of them around your house. A favorite playlist with some of their favorite songs. Or eating their favorite meal once in a while. Whatever feels supportive to you, think about the ways honoring them can be part of your life.
Take it Day by Day
My final note is baby steps! Take it day by day. Grief can be destabilizing some days, and almost hard to recognize on other days. Don’t try to analyze your grief, it won’t help anything. Just meet yourself with as much grace and support as you can each day. If you are looking for more personalized support to find ways to healthily grieve, check in with a grief knowledgable therapist. You are not alone!
