Begin to reevaluate your priorities; decide what is the most meaningful to you and your family.
While grieving you do not function well at high capacity, so pace yourself.
Plan ahead for your coping strategies.
Let family and friends know what you feel comfortable with and thing you can handle:
- Whether or not to talk about your loved one who has died
- Whether you handle your usual holiday responsibilities or need help
- Whether you will stay home or get away totally for the holiday
It may be helpful to change traditions-know that this is ok to do.
Perhaps open gifts at different times, maybe in the afternoon instead of evening.
Have dinner at a different place or time.
Attend a different place of worship.
Let the children or others decorate the tree, make cookies, or write Christmas cards.
Do something for someone else:
- Give a gift in memory of your missing loved one
- Donate money that would have been spent on your loved one
- Adopt a needy family for the holiday
- Invite someone a lone to join your family for the holiday dinner
Burn a special candle in your loved one's memory.
Put out a shopping list ahead then on good days tackle what you can.
Shop by phone or catalog, or let someone else do it for you.
Allow yourself to have fun.
Give yourself and family permission to celebrate and take pleasure in the holidays.
Be realistic; recognize fatigue can lead to feelings of depression. Don't over extend.
Do those things that are meaningful to you and your family.
Don't isolate yourself.
Treat yourself.
Acknowledge and accept your feelings.