When people lose someone dear to them, Harvard Medical School notes that it’s common for their stress levels to rise dramatically. It’s not uncommon for people to retreat inwards or turn to self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse during such a difficult time.
This is why it’s important to set small goals during the grieving process to reduce stress. While it can be tough to start, sometimes doing the smallest stress-relieving activity can spark joy in someone dealing with grief. Today, Kaplan Development Group offers a range of suggestions to help you get started.
Activities to Relieve Stress
When it comes to dealing with stress, everyone has different coping mechanisms to take care of themselves. It can be helpful to set small goals of doing one stress-relieving activity per day or week.
- Go for a walk. Take advantage of the beauty that nature has to offer and go for a nice long walk to clear your head. Experiencing a change of scenery and temperature can do wonders for the mind when going through a difficult event.
- Meditate. Meditating can do wonders for your mental health. If you’re new to the world of meditating, why not try guided meditation?
- Play with a pet. If you’re an animal lover, Newcomer points out that it can be very healing to spend time with your pet. Try your best to be in the moment, allowing all of your troubles to fall by the wayside while you play with your furry critter. Look into nearby walks and hikes you can complete with your dog to give your mind a break. Or you could just play catch with a tennis ball at home. As long as you’re enjoying your time spent with them, that’s all that matters.
- Challenge yourself. It might sound counterintuitive but sometimes, when you’re stressed, the best thing to do is chase a dream or goal that you’ve been putting off. Educational goals are a good example. Especially for those who also want to give back to their communities through fields like nursing or teaching, online learning can be a great way to pursue a degree while still giving yourself the scheduling flexibility you need to deal with your grief.
- Do nothing. It’s okay if you want to take some time and do absolutely nothing. Believe it or not, this is an easy way to clear your mind and just reset. In fact, many people in the business world make a point to “do nothing” a few times a day.
- Indulge yourself. Treating yourself to a new outfit or tickets or a baseball game won’t erase the grief you’re feeling, but it will remind you of the benefits of being proactive when it comes to your own happiness. And if you’re wondering where to find Yankees tickets at an affordable price, the good news is that you can search by price, date, and seat rating online, making it much easier to find that indulgence you both need and deserve.
Important Things to Keep in Mind
While finding ways to relieve stress during the grieving process can be helpful, your loved one will never be far from your mind. It’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself to heal quickly, as going through these difficult emotions is understandable and necessary to process what has happened.
Completing one stress-relieving activity a day is a major achievement. There’s no pressure to overload yourself. Take it day by day and slowly pursue more stress relief as and when it feels right for you. Remember that each person deals with stress in very different ways. What may be right for a friend of yours may not be right for you. Test out various activities and see what suits you and your needs.
Next Steps
There’s no magic pill that can take away the stress caused by the loss of a loved one. You can, however, take small steps every day in order to relieve the extra stress caused leading to a more healthy grieving process.
Kaplan Development Group owns and operates senior living communities around the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. If you have any questions, let us know!
