28/12/2023
The start of a new year is often accompanied by feelings of hope and renewal. But when you’re grieving, the return of January can sometimes bring difficult emotions with it too.
To help you cope with these emotions be honest with yourself and others-It’s okay to be finding grief difficult and it’s okay to put you and your mental health first. You don’t have to feel or behave in a certain way or put a smile on for others. And any plans you do make are allowed to be cancelled.
Plan your days
Structure allows us to manage silence, emptiness and our time better as it helps to reduce the feelings that arise with anxiety. Knowing what is happening next in a world that has changed can give you a sense of predictability back, particularly when you are feeling helpless or like things are beyond your control. This predictability in your routine can help you to feel more grounded and calm.
Take time away from social media
This can be helpful if you don’t want to be surrounded by other people’s happy worlds. What you see on social media is never as picture perfect as it seems. Try to go for nature walk, visit a park or explore the city while it’s quieter instead. Be present in the moment and focus on what’s around you.
Reach out for help
No-one who considers themselves a friend will mind if you call them to talk about how you’re feeling. It can feel scary to open up about your grief, but it can really help the people around you to support you better.
If you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to someone you know, try visiting our Online welbeing organizations. It’s a safe space for you to get things off your chest, ask questions and chat to other bereaved people who understand, and it’s available any time of the day or night.
Consider how far you have come
With every new year, there’s often pressure to begin again, to refresh and to go forward in a positive way. But this can often mean holding high expectations of ourselves, and aiming for unrealistic goals that might make us feel worse in the long run.
Instead of looking forward, try looking back and acknowledging how far you have come in your grief journey. Some moments might feel harder than others, but with each day that passes, you are growing around your grief and finding ways to cope - whether you realise it or not.