The holidays involve lively activities and traditions with family and friends, but the passing of someone close makes it difficult to join the celebrations. If you attended a loved one’s funeral before the festive season, you should continue caring for yourself—even if you feel guilty about your grief. Here’s how to deal with feelings of loss while navigating the holidays.

5 Tips for Handling Grief During the Holidays

1. Allow Yourself to Feel

If a loved one’s funeral was several months ago, it could feel like you have moved on a bit. However, powerful reminders of the deceased—like a holiday you usually spent together—can bring intense feelings flooding back. When this occurs, avoid feeling guilty about your emotions. Healing is not a straight line, and it’s perfectly normal for some days to be tougher than others.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Set Boundaries

Although the festive season is usually one of cheer and joy, your first holiday without a loved one can be painful. It is perfectly healthy and okay to set some boundaries. Politely turn down activities that can be too difficult to get through. If you participate in celebrations, have an exit strategy ready in case you ever feel overwhelmed.

3. Talk to Someone

The festive season can feel lonely without a loved one, but you are not alone. Feel free to reach out and talk to a close friend or family member. With this individual, you can share warm holiday memories from the past or discuss how the grieving process changed over the past year. It can also help to find a support group.

4. Start New Traditions

As you fondly reflect on the traditions shared with a lost loved one, adjust these practices or start another to create new memories. For example, if you previously went Christmas caroling around the neighborhood together, consider volunteering to sing for a hospital or nursing home. Fun new traditions could include baking cookies from scratch, ice skating, creating festive crafts, or watching holiday movie marathons.

5. Be Patient With Yourself

Because the first holiday season without a loved one is challenging, be patient and go easy on yourself. Readjusting to special occasions and everyday life will take time. People grieve differently and at separate paces, so try not to worry if everyone else seems to have moved on or if you feel like you’re not mourning enough. During this period, focus on healing and cherish the moments of joy throughout the season.

When a relative passes away, families deserve the support of a compassionate funeral home. For over a century, Robert W. Waid Funeral Home in Crawford County, PA, has provided a full range of services to grieving families with a caring, personalized approach. They will go above and beyond to help you plan a beautiful, memorable funeral that honors the wishes of your loved one. Learn more about what they can do for your family online. To discuss arrangements with a friendly staff member, call (814) 724-1021.