Grieving is incredibly tough, and we’re so sorry you’re having to experience this right now. It’s an experience that doesn’t follow any kind of neat predictable path but is a journey unique to everyone. This means there’s no right way to handle grief, and truthfully, the best thing you can do is listen to your body and mind and go with what feels right. That said, there are some practical tips that many have found to make the process a bit easier. These aren’t meant to fix your grief but help bring some comfort and connection.
Allow Yourself to Grieve
One of the most practical tips for navigating the grieving process is to remember that it’s okay to grieve. Never feel guilty about feeling sad, angry, or numb. Many people still find themselves questioning whether grief is normal, especially when their emotions seem to change from one day to the next. These are all completely normal and human reactions to grief and it’s healthy to give yourself time to really feel these emotions. Grief is unpredictable and you’ll often find that trying to control or rush through it will make things harder in the long run.
It’s also okay if you find yourself feeling short bursts of relief or joy. This is also completely normal. Give yourself permission to grieve in whatever way feels natural to you. If you need to, set aside some quiet time each day to process your emotions. This could be just 10 minutes a day where you sit with your feelings, take a few deep breaths and gently remind yourself that your feelings are normal.
Seek Support
Grief can be one of the most isolating experiences we can endure, but please know that you are not alone. If you ever do feel lonely, please try your best to reach out to others such as your close friends, family, or a support group. Although these people won’t have a full understanding of what you are going through, they can still help by just being there, listening and helping you process your emotions.
Again, we recommend taking a moment each day to check in with someone close to you, even if it’s just a quick phone call or a few text exchanges. If talking to someone close to you still feels too hard right now, consider joining an online grief support group like the Inscripture Bereavement Facebook Group where you can listen or share your experiences with strangers going through similar situations.
Practice Self-Care
Another practical tip for navigating the grieving process is to try and implement some self-care into your daily routine. Until you experience it for yourself, it can be a shock as to how much you feel physically and emotionally drained after losing someone or something close to you. In order to heal from this, self-care is incredibly important. This doesn’t mean you have to go all out with spa days (unless you want to!), but just simple acts like eating regularly, staying hydrated and getting outside for some fresh air can really help.
Try creating a small self-care routine that works for you. Maybe start your day with a cup of tea in the garden, go for a short walk to get some fresh air, or treat yourself to a few minutes of skin care. Even something as simple as making your bed each morning can give you a sense of control and accomplishment when things feel overwhelming. Keep it manageable; self-care isn’t about doing more, it’s about taking care of yourself in ways that feel good to you.
Create Rituals
Something that might help you through the emotions of grief is by creating a ritual, something that lets you honour your loved one in a meaningful and personal way. It can be as elaborate or as minimal as you like, but ultimately the goal is to create a sense of connection between you and your loved one, something that reminds you of their presence and brings you peace.
You might choose to light a candle and say a small prayer or visit a place that was special to you and your loved one. Another beautiful ritual is to create a memorial box you can fill with special items that remind you of your loved one. That way, every time you need to feel close to them, you have a physical item you can touch and experience to feel exactly that. Wearing something that reminds you of them, like a piece of memorial jewellery, can also serve as a ritual of keeping them close.
Seek Professional Help
If you’re finding it hard to cope and you’re struggling to speak to those around you, first of all know that that’s okay. It’s not unusual to find it difficult to speak openly about your emotions but we promise that it will be incredibly beneficial if you do. A great option is to speak to someone that has a lot of understanding and advice to give such as a grief counsellor. They are trained to give you practical tips on overcoming loss in ways that friends and family may not be equipped to.
Start by looking for grief counselling services in your area or online. Many therapists now offer virtual sessions, making it easier to access help from the comfort of your home. If therapy feels too daunting, you could start with a grief app that offers guided exercises or coping strategies.
Embrace Patience and Time
As much as we’d like to tell you that your grief will be over soon, we can’t. There is no timetable for grief. For some it takes months, others years, and some a lifetime to fully process loss. This is a big part of why grief feels different for everyone, and why comparing your experience to someone else’s is rarely helpful. And every single experience is okay. No one can or should judge you for how long you take to grieve.
Healing isn’t linear either. One day you might feel like things are improving and you’re beginning to feel a sense of joy and happiness again. The next, you might feel like you’re back at square one. Be patient with yourself and know this is totally normal. Without you realising, it’s likely you’ll begin to have more good days than bad, and those moments of pain will become less frequent. Just keep taking it day by day, and trust that with time, the balance will shift towards healing and hope. Understanding the relationship between grief and healing can also help remind you that healing doesn’t mean forgetting the person you love.
Find Comfort in Memorial Jewellery
Our final practical tip for navigating the grieving process is to find something, ideally a physical object, that you can hold onto such as memorial jewellery. These personalised necklaces, bracelets, rings and charms are designed to be a reminder of your loved one’s spirit and to bring you comfort and peace.
For example, consider wearing a piece of ashes jewellery that contains your loved one’s remains. These designs are a discreet way to carry your loved one with you wherever life takes you, letting you feel connected to them throughout the day. Alternatively, you could create a piece of engraved memorial jewellery which is decorated with your loved one’s photograph, fingerprint or a piece of their real handwriting. Here at Inscripture, it’s our hope that these tangible reminders bring our customers a sense of closeness and help them cherish their favourite memories as they navigate the journey of grief and healing. If you’re looking for additional support, our guide on how to deal with grief shares more practical advice for coping with loss day by day.
