For many, the start of a New Year feels like a blank slate, a chance to reset, refocus and set new intentions. But when you’re grieving, this time of year feels less like a fresh start and more like a reminder of what’s missing. So, this year, we thought we’d try and help those of you grieving with some grief-related New Year’s resolutions, intentions that will honour your loved one and help you heal.
You don’t have to follow these New Year’s resolutions perfectly or commit to them every single day. But just keeping them in mind and implementing them in your life in some way might just be what you need to guide you through grief in the year ahead.
1. Take It One Day at a Time
This probably sounds like an obvious one, but it’s something we can often forget when we’re grieving. It’s so important to take each day as it comes, one at a time. There’s no instruction manual to grief, and there’s no set timeline that your feelings and emotions will follow. So this New Year, try to ignore the pressure to “move on” or feel a certain way by a specific day. Instead, focus on the small wins, like getting out of bed or taking a walk, and take each day at a time. Celebrate the days you feel better and be kind to yourself on the days things feel heavy.
2. Talk About Them
One of the most healing things you can do to keep your loved one’s memory alive is by talking about them. Share their stories and their favourite sayings, watch their favourite films and listen to their favourite music. These simple acts can be such a beautiful way to keep their spirit close and help you feel connected to them after they’ve gone. And if you worry people feel uncomfortable talking about the loss of a loved one, remind yourself that’s unlikely the case. Most people want to listen, so try and lead the way. Start sharing stories with your friends and family and you’ll probably find it’s a new year’s resolution that’ll help both you and those around you also grieving.
3. Start a New Tradition
Traditions are a huge part of how we celebrate and remember, but when you’ve lost someone, old traditions can sometimes feel bittersweet. This year, consider starting a new tradition that honours their memory in a meaningful way. It could be something as simple as lighting a candle for them on special occasions, making their favourite recipe once a month or visiting a place that was important to them. New traditions don’t replace the old ones but create a new way to connect with your loved one and celebrate the impact they had on your life.
4. Gift Yourself Some Self-Care
Grief is exhausting, especially around Christmas and the New Year period. It not only affects you emotionally, but also physically. That’s why self-care is a necessary New Year’s resolution for those grieving. Self-care can be anything that brings you a moment of peace and joy, whether it’s taking a day to rest to watch your favourite shows, spending the evening in the bath with a book or setting boundaries with people or situations that feel overwhelming. It’s all about giving yourself the time and space to feel however you need to feel.
5. Treat Yourself to a Piece of Memorial Jewellery
Finally, another New Year’s resolution you should make involves treating yourself to a piece of memorial jewellery. These beautiful keepsake jewellery pieces let you honour your loved one’s memory in a way that’s unique to them, and you. And it lets you keep a real part of your loved one with you, so when you finally feel ready to get back into your daily routine, a piece of them is always close.
Here at Inscripture, we specialise in creating personalised memorial jewellery that is bespoke to your story. Whether it’s a piece engraved with their handwriting, a photo, a fingerprint, or a paw print, or even ashes jewellery that holds their remains or colourful resin infused with their ashes, let us design you a piece of memorial jewellery that helps you feel connected to them.
