Directors at funeral homes in Hamilton, NJ, recognize that the holiday season can be difficult for those who have lost a loved one. It’s filled with happy memories, family traditions, and loving gestures – everything we miss when someone important to us no longer shares it with us.

Even though the holidays are challenging, you don’t have to avoid them forever. There are ways to get through this time of year so that they’re less painful in the future. It might take some time, but you can ease your way back into the sentimental season after losing a loved one.

Read on for helpful tips on getting through the holidays after losing a loved one.

Take The Time To Heal First

The holidays can be rough when you’ve lost a loved one, so you shouldn’t rush back into the season before you’re ready. It will take some time to heal after losing someone close to you, and that’s okay.

Don’t push yourself too hard during this sensitive time of year. It can be tempting to avoid the holidays altogether but give yourself permission to take your time and ease into your new norm instead.

Reach Out For Support

You don’t have to go through this holiday season alone after losing your person. It might be tempting to push everyone away so they don’t see your pain. However, supportive friends or family can help distract you from your grief and make the season easier for you.

You might also consider joining a support group for people who have lost a loved one, as well as attending grief counseling sessions. These resources can help you heal or find meaning in your pain.

Stay busy

The holidays are usually very busy, and it might be harder to deal with the vacuum if you’re idle. If you don’t have anything else to do, it might help to find something to keep yourself occupied during the holidays.

You can volunteer or work; even if you’re not making money, you will be helping others, which will distract your mind from your grief. You can also use that time to stay active and explore new hobbies, places, and people. The more distracted you are, the less time you spend drowning in what was.

Recreate A Tradition You Shared With The Deceased

Another thing you can do for yourself and the deceased is to carry on a tradition they enjoyed with you. This is to remind you and other loved ones of the precious life they lived and its continued significance to you all.

If you don’t have established holiday traditions with the deceased, you can create new ones. You can do things you usually do in memoriam, such as lighting a candle or naming a light after them.

You can make their favorite dish or incorporate what they would usually do into your own new traditions. In a gathering, you can share a fond holiday memory, or a story about your late loved one and encourage others who knew them to do the same.

Anything you do during the holidays, especially the first few ones after the death, will come with mixed feelings. Manage your expectations but try not to retreat or avoid the holiday altogether. Allow the emotions that come with the season and surround yourself with warmth and love as you navigate them.

At our Hamilton, NJ, funeral home, we can put you on to resources to make your grief more bearable, if only a little bit. Don’t hesitate to ask for them when you drop by or call us today.