Losing a loved one close to the holidays can make a traditionally joyful time difficult to get through. However, withdrawing from holiday celebrations entirely isn’t a healthy coping strategy. By giving yourself space to mourn and letting others stand with you through this time, you can begin the healing process. Below are three ways to commemorate your loved one and manage your grief after the memorial service.

3 Tips for Mourning During the Holidays

1. Turn to Others for Help

If you’re responsible for planning a substantial portion of the festivities, it can be overwhelming to grieve and handle celebration plans, especially if you’ve just had to prepare a memorial service. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family members for assistance, even if you feel like you’re inconveniencing them. They’ll understand how you feel, and can help cook, clean, or shop. Most importantly, don’t isolate yourself. Withdrawing from the people who love you can delay healthy grief processing.

2. Honor Your Loved One

The holidays come with a range of traditions, and you can introduce a new one in honor of your loved one. You could light a candle in their memory, sing their favorite religious or holiday song, or make their favorite meal. These small actions help you remember the good times and share emotional healing with those you’re close to.

3. Accept the Full Range of Emotions

Many people feel like their grief will go away if they ignore it, but you can become a stronger person if you embrace it and accept that mourning is one of life’s challenges. By using the grief management strategies above and accepting the full range of emotions — hurt, sadness, anger, joy — you can balance the grief of loss with the good that life has to offer.

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, a compassionate, caring funeral home can handle the logistics and provide a fitting memorial service. Serving The Greater Miami Valley, Schlientz & Moore Funeral Home will help you celebrate the love and memories you shared with your loved one. Call us at (937) 253-1441 or visit our website to begin planning memorial services.