How You Can Set and Achieve Restorative Goals While Enduring Grief
Laura Carlson
Published February 2, 2023
Engage in Regular Exercise
You may struggle to find the motivation or the time to exercise, but studies show that physical activity can help you cope with grief. Movement triggers feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain, such as GABA, serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. Some folks reported fewer depressive symptoms after making time for 30-minute workouts at least every other day of the week.
Find time for exercise by making small adjustments to put more motion into your routine. If your schedule is filled with family responsibilities or work, you can:
Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Depending on how close you are to the store, leave the car at home and walk to perform errands
Park farther away from the door of the office or stores
Wake up 15 minutes earlier and jog in place or ride a stationary bike
Set a daily goal and monitor your steps with a fitness tracker
Make Time for Music
Use music as an outlet for your feelings. Music can help you redefine or find your identity during a crisis. Familiar songs can help you keep a positive connection with the past. Listen to songs that express your emotions, lift you up, and encourage you to carry on. If you play an instrument, compose or record a short piece to memorialize the circumstance or person you’re grieving, which can help give you closure.
Set Yourself Right With Sunlight
Harness the power of the sun to boost your mood. Sunlight can lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep, and reduce the effects of seasonal affective disorder, which can be exacerbated during moments of grief. Open windows in your home and office and spend at least 20 minutes outside basking in the light of a sunny day.
Comfort Yourself with EFT and Tapping
Multiple studies show that the Emotional Freedom Technique is a therapeutic method for dealing with distress. Tapping on acupressure points and stating affirmations has helped numerous individuals gain self-acceptance and manage the aftermath of traumatizing events. Search for a guide or practitioner to help you employ the technique correctly.
Maintain a Consistent Routine
A consistent routine is beneficial for various mental health conditions. Organizing your life gives you a sense of control. Allow yourself time for necessary chores and activities and carve out moments for reflection, watching your favorite show, listening to a podcast, or chatting with a friend. A regular schedule can break a cycle of procrastination and leave you with the sensation of accomplishment.
Reduce Your Stress
This might sound obvious but reducing your stress levels as much as possible is a must – and that includes nagging, subconscious worries about leaky faucets, whether or not you need a fence around your backyard, and if your health insurance is adequate. Instead, try to be proactive about what you can change or improve, and let go of what you can’t.
Perhaps you can gain some peace of mind for yourself and your family with a home warranty, but costs can vary. For example, with Arizona home warranty companies, monthly costs can range from $19 to $90, so check ratings and reviews to find the best match for your needs.
Help Others
Another tried and true way to help us overcome our grief is by helping others. This doesn’t just serve as a distraction; it also helps to put matters in perspective, and allows us to feel a sense of accomplishment as we give back to our community. Forming a nonprofit corporation is an excellent way to extend a helping hand, and an online formation service can help you get started in no time.
Reaffirm Your Relationships
Loss reminds you of the value of your interpersonal relationships. Reaffirm how much you value your loved ones daily. Prioritize unity and peace over getting your way or being right about an issue. Also, create an environment of teamwork and adapt to the communication styles of each family or friend for more productive dialogs.
Your pain and sorrow must run their course, but dedicating energy to healthy goals eases the process. Set appropriate objectives to make the best use of your time, reduce your stress, and gradually restore yourself from the low points of grief. That’s what your loved one would want.
Mente Soul strives to build powerful minds. Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
About Author: Laura Carlson
“Laura Carlson is the creator behind Endurabilities. She became disabled after a car accident when she was 13 years old. Today, her life’s calling is helping those who’ve experienced similar traumas. In addition to heading up a support group for people who are coping with a traumatic life transition like she experienced, she created Endurabilities as a small way to let people know that they can endure any health condition by taking the best care of themselves they can. It is Laura’s sincere hope that her site will inspire people to discover their own “endurability,” no matter what challenges life has thrown their way.”