Practical Tips For When You Lose a Loved One

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There are few things more harrowing in life than losing a loved one. We don’t need to go into how emotionally draining that this can be - because you already know it. Instead, we’re going to focus on the practical side of life, the things that you can do to make sure you’re able to move on in life. The steps below won’t make the loss you’ve suffered feel any less painful, but it will make the process towards acceptance a little more structured.

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Take Care of the Basics

You’re not going to want to socialize, be outdoors, or anything else in the immediate aftermath of your loss. In fact, you won’t want to do anything. However, it’s super important that you take of the basics of life. That means doing things like showering, tidying up your home, and eating healthy foods. This may require levels of effort that you don’t feel like exerting, but it’s an integral part of moving forward. While you get a free pass on getting away with avoiding the EXTRA things in life, by taking care of the basics, you’ll at least be putting yourself in a position to move forward.

Get Your Finances Sorted

If you’ve lost a partner, then it’s possible that you’ll have to face up to a diminished household income. As such, you’ll want to ensure that you’re getting your finances in order, such as making sure that you’re paying all the bills you’re now solely responsible, drawing up a new budget, and canceling any standing payments that are no longer applicable. You will also want to claim on any life insurance policies, and see if you have a claim against any guilty parties; in wrongful death cases, compensation can be sought. Doing all of the above will ensure that you’re not left in any financial difficulties when the grieving process is over.

Do The Things You Love

You won’t want to have fun immediately - and when you do, you’ll feel guilty. However, it’s extra important that you carry on doing the things that you love to do. It’s a crucial step towards returning to a semblance of normal life, and, in any case, it’s a good way to prevent yourself from going too far into a negative thought spiral. While you may just want to close the curtains and hide in bed all day, you’ll be well served by forcing yourself out and doing the things you love.

Immerse Yourself In Friends and Family

You’ve spent a lifetime cultivating your support network; now is this time that you need them the most. Don’t feel guilty about becoming a burden to your friends and family - they want you to be the best version of yourself, and, if they can help you, then they will. There’s no reason to be alone, other than during the times you want to be.

Finally, remember to be kind and patient with yourself, and to give yourself space to grieve. It might not feel like it, but things will get better eventually.

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Loosing someone is never easy. It is one of the difficult and challenging parts of life. I know this from personal experience. I have had a lot of loss over the past year and the tips above are very helpful for moving forward. Remember to take the time to grieve. We all grieve in different ways but the most important thing to remember is that you never walk alone on this crazy roller coaster that we call life.