Grief is a challenging and personal journey that affects people in different ways. While you must allow yourself time and space to wrap your head around your loss, setting healthy goals now can provide structure, purpose, and comfort to yourself and others throughout the grieving process. Erica Shinya Kim offers tips on small goals you can set to help you walk toward health and healing.
Exercise
Exercise has many benefits for those struggling with grief. Not only does it get you off the couch, but exercise also triggers the brain’s release of endorphins, the “feel-good” hormone. Even if you’re pressed for time, you can walk during the work day by skipping the elevator or taking a quick stroll to the local sandwich shop or park for lunch.
Consider a side job
Dealing with the loss of a spouse often brings not only emotional distress but also financial challenges, as your household income might have significantly reduced. In such circumstances, seeking a side job could be a practical solution to help manage your finances. Additionally, engaging in a new work environment can offer a distraction, aiding in coping with your grief. This approach not only helps in paying the bills but also provides an opportunity for social interaction and personal growth during a difficult time.
Practice self-care
Self-care plays a crucial role in the healing process. This simply involves taking intentional actions that make you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically well. A few self-care goals to set include creating a daily routine and practicing mindful gratitude. You can also add some indoor plants in your home to help clean the air. HomeGardenHero is a great resource for finding care information on various popular indoor plants.
Seek support and connections
In the wake of any tragedy, finding a group of people that understand where you are mentally and emotionally can be a huge boon to your overall well-being. Now’s a great time to seek comfort in your friends and family. If they don’t fully understand where you are in your grief journey, you can also look for a lost support group. GriefShare is an excellent resource that can help you find your community.
Volunteer
When you do good, you feel good. While you might not feel like getting out of the house, spending some time as a volunteer has many benefits. According to the University of Maryland Medical System, lending a hand to a cause near and dear to your heart can give you a boost of happiness while lowering your blood pressure. Importantly, volunteering is also a great avenue by which you might forge friendships and create even more social and supportive connections. If you’re not sure where to volunteer, consider something that was special to the one you lost. The Alzheimer’s Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or your local food bank are all worthy causes that can help you turn your loved one’s memory and to change.
Prepare for a New Career
When considering ways to advance your dreams, furthering your education is a significant avenue to explore. This path can open new opportunities and enhance your skills, making it a valuable step in achieving your aspirations. However, it's important to approach this decision with care, especially during emotionally challenging times. Following the passing of a loved one, it's advisable to avoid making any major decisions, including educational commitments, for at least six months. This period allows for emotional healing and clearer thinking, ensuring that any decisions made are in your best interest. Taking this time can also provide a better perspective on how this educational pursuit fits into your long-term goals and dreams.
Pursuing a degree, such as a bachelor's in computer science, can open doors to rewarding careers like cybersecurity or software engineering. The flexibility of online degree programs is particularly advantageous for those balancing full-time work or family obligations. These programs allow you to study and complete coursework on your own schedule, making it feasible to achieve your diploma without sacrificing other important aspects of your life.
However, it’s crucial to choose an online school that is not only accredited but also offers competitive tuition rates. Accreditation ensures the quality and recognition of your education, while affordable tuition is key to making this step financially viable. Researching and comparing different programs to see how this can benefit your bottom line is an essential part of the decision-making process. By taking this proactive step, you can work towards a fulfilling career that aligns with your aspirations, turning a period of grief into a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
Find a New Job
Grief, while profoundly challenging, can sometimes serve as a poignant reminder of life's brevity and propel you toward pursuing a more fulfilling career. This realization often inspires a desire for change, encouraging you to seek a position that aligns more closely with your passions and values. However, like heading back to school, it’s important to give yourself time to determine if a career change is truly something that’s right for you.
Before embarking on this new career path, it's important to ensure your resume is updated with your latest experience, skills, and accomplishments. Using a PDF format for your resume is a wise choice as it maintains the consistency of your formatting, visual elements, and overall design across different devices and operating systems, which is crucial for making a professional impression. If your current resume is in a different file format, you can change your files to the desired format online easily. Utilize an online tool that allows for simple conversion of documents to PDFs by just dragging and dropping them into the tool.
It is often believed that grief unfolds through specific phases, but this viewpoint can oversimplify the experience. Grief is unique and personal, manifesting in various ways for different individuals. In navigating your grief, consider setting daily achievable objectives. These can range from minor activities, like a brief walk during your lunch break, to significant decisions, such as launching a small business. Select actions that resonate with you, keeping in mind that while time gradually eases sorrow, actively engaging in your journey through grief can facilitate a smoother path to healing.
Exercise
Exercise has many benefits for those struggling with grief. Not only does it get you off the couch, but exercise also triggers the brain’s release of endorphins, the “feel-good” hormone. Even if you’re pressed for time, you can walk during the work day by skipping the elevator or taking a quick stroll to the local sandwich shop or park for lunch.
Consider a side job
Dealing with the loss of a spouse often brings not only emotional distress but also financial challenges, as your household income might have significantly reduced. In such circumstances, seeking a side job could be a practical solution to help manage your finances. Additionally, engaging in a new work environment can offer a distraction, aiding in coping with your grief. This approach not only helps in paying the bills but also provides an opportunity for social interaction and personal growth during a difficult time.
Practice self-care
Self-care plays a crucial role in the healing process. This simply involves taking intentional actions that make you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically well. A few self-care goals to set include creating a daily routine and practicing mindful gratitude. You can also add some indoor plants in your home to help clean the air. HomeGardenHero is a great resource for finding care information on various popular indoor plants.
Seek support and connections
In the wake of any tragedy, finding a group of people that understand where you are mentally and emotionally can be a huge boon to your overall well-being. Now’s a great time to seek comfort in your friends and family. If they don’t fully understand where you are in your grief journey, you can also look for a lost support group. GriefShare is an excellent resource that can help you find your community.
Volunteer
When you do good, you feel good. While you might not feel like getting out of the house, spending some time as a volunteer has many benefits. According to the University of Maryland Medical System, lending a hand to a cause near and dear to your heart can give you a boost of happiness while lowering your blood pressure. Importantly, volunteering is also a great avenue by which you might forge friendships and create even more social and supportive connections. If you’re not sure where to volunteer, consider something that was special to the one you lost. The Alzheimer’s Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or your local food bank are all worthy causes that can help you turn your loved one’s memory and to change.
Prepare for a New Career
When considering ways to advance your dreams, furthering your education is a significant avenue to explore. This path can open new opportunities and enhance your skills, making it a valuable step in achieving your aspirations. However, it's important to approach this decision with care, especially during emotionally challenging times. Following the passing of a loved one, it's advisable to avoid making any major decisions, including educational commitments, for at least six months. This period allows for emotional healing and clearer thinking, ensuring that any decisions made are in your best interest. Taking this time can also provide a better perspective on how this educational pursuit fits into your long-term goals and dreams.
Pursuing a degree, such as a bachelor's in computer science, can open doors to rewarding careers like cybersecurity or software engineering. The flexibility of online degree programs is particularly advantageous for those balancing full-time work or family obligations. These programs allow you to study and complete coursework on your own schedule, making it feasible to achieve your diploma without sacrificing other important aspects of your life.
However, it’s crucial to choose an online school that is not only accredited but also offers competitive tuition rates. Accreditation ensures the quality and recognition of your education, while affordable tuition is key to making this step financially viable. Researching and comparing different programs to see how this can benefit your bottom line is an essential part of the decision-making process. By taking this proactive step, you can work towards a fulfilling career that aligns with your aspirations, turning a period of grief into a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
Find a New Job
Grief, while profoundly challenging, can sometimes serve as a poignant reminder of life's brevity and propel you toward pursuing a more fulfilling career. This realization often inspires a desire for change, encouraging you to seek a position that aligns more closely with your passions and values. However, like heading back to school, it’s important to give yourself time to determine if a career change is truly something that’s right for you.
Before embarking on this new career path, it's important to ensure your resume is updated with your latest experience, skills, and accomplishments. Using a PDF format for your resume is a wise choice as it maintains the consistency of your formatting, visual elements, and overall design across different devices and operating systems, which is crucial for making a professional impression. If your current resume is in a different file format, you can change your files to the desired format online easily. Utilize an online tool that allows for simple conversion of documents to PDFs by just dragging and dropping them into the tool.
It is often believed that grief unfolds through specific phases, but this viewpoint can oversimplify the experience. Grief is unique and personal, manifesting in various ways for different individuals. In navigating your grief, consider setting daily achievable objectives. These can range from minor activities, like a brief walk during your lunch break, to significant decisions, such as launching a small business. Select actions that resonate with you, keeping in mind that while time gradually eases sorrow, actively engaging in your journey through grief can facilitate a smoother path to healing.
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