It can be challenging to set and pursue healthful goals during times of grief, loss, and major change. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t neglect self-care when dealing with life’s difficulties. Instead, you can take small steps that support your healing journey.
Prioritize Mental Health
If you’re going through a difficult time, try practicing self-compassion and giving yourself time to process your emotions. Ignoring feelings of grief prevents you from healing and moving forward. Allow yourself to get plenty of rest, too. Lack of sleep can contribute adversely to mental wellness, and research suggests that one in three adults don’t sleep enough. Finally, monitor your psychological wellness, and seek support if you experience mental health issues. You can access various mental health services, from psychiatric care to counseling to group therapy.
Take Care of Your Body
Caring for your body can support the healing process and help you feel better overall. For example, sticking with an exercise routine can improve your physical fitness and psychological well-being. Studies show that four to five moderate exercise sessions per week can help in the treatment of mental illnesses. If you’re dealing with grief, consider trying yoga, which is indicated to help with symptoms of depression. Outdoor activities, such as hiking, can also boost your mood, as spending time in nature is linked to improved physical and mental wellness.
It’s also crucial to eat a balanced, healthy diet. Proper nutrition can support the health of your body and mind. Limit consumption of alcohol and refined sugars, which may contribute to feelings of anxiety or depression. You can nourish your body and improve your mental health with a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein sources, such as fish and legumes.
Connect With Others
Isolation can make it harder to cope with grief and loss. Seek out connections with others to help you heal. Try to spend quality time with family and loved ones so that you can support one another. Schedule a family meal or partake in community service together. If you want to make new friendships, you can meet people through group activities, such as volunteering or attending a fitness class. You can also adopt a pet from a rescue or shelter. Pets provide amusement and companionship for their owners, and caring for one is correlated with improved emotional wellness.
Explore New Things
Learning skills and exploring interesting topics can help support brain health and positively impact your overall well-being. If you’re working on healing yourself after a difficult loss, consider taking up a hobby. You can return to things that inspired you as a child or try something totally outside your comfort zone to shake things up.
Grief may change your perspective on life, and personal growth can occur during difficult times. For example, you might consider returning to school or pursuing a more fulfilling career. You can earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree through an online program that allows you to balance your studies with work and family responsibilities. Look for an accredited program with competitive tuition when selecting an online school.
Healing after a difficult experience is not easy. It helps to be patient and kind to yourself as you navigate emotions of loss and grief. Setting small goals that enable you to care for yourself can aid you during the healing process.
By: Camille Johnson