Give yourself an allotted amount of time (say, a few days) to pore over letters or pictures, listen to sad music, or cry your eyes out while cuddling a stuffed animal. Once your mourning window has passed, commit to getting back into the swing of your everyday life. Remember, the pain of missing that person is a reflection of how important that relationship was to you. Give yourself permission to feel that pain. [2] X Expert Source Allison Broennimann, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 14 December 2020. Remember that grief isn’t just psychological; it’s also physical. It’s okay if you’re not eating and sleeping, or being as productive or social as you normally would. [3] X Expert Source Allison Broennimann, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 14 December 2020.
You might say, “I feel so sad now that Randy has moved away. I really could use someone to talk to. ” If you have an idea how this person can improve your mood, make a request. For instance, you might say, “Can we watch silly rom-coms tomorrow night in honor of Jessica?”
You might also write about how you feel and address it to the person you miss. You can send it to them if they are accessible or store it to re-read when the feelings come over you again.
Reflect on the great times you had with this person. You might share these memories in your journal or tell someone else close to you. Find a ritual that you can do to honor the person you’re missing every time a wave of grief hits you. [7] X Expert Source Allison Broennimann, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 14 December 2020.
Everyone deals with emotions differently and it may take a few weeks to a few years for you to work through your emotions. However, if your daily life is impacted, it’s important to seek professional help. [9] X Research source A counselor will listen as you talk through your feelings. Plus, they can offer helpful strategies for dealing with your unique situation, such as performing a ritual for someone who died.
Join a new club or organization or participate in a Meetup in your area to meet new people. Forge deeper bonds with existing friends by asking them to hang out more often or starting a new tradition with them, like Sunday brunch or Friday movie night.
Try improving your math or English comprehension, if you’re in school. Or, try taking up a foreign language, learning the fine art of French cooking, or taking guitar lessons.
Plan to hike a new trail if you enjoy the outdoors. You might also try photography, knitting, painting, collecting, baking, gardening, or gaming.
Go for a run, bike ride, or a swim. Or, join a friend at a group fitness class like Zumba or Pilates. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.
Instead, turn to others for support or find a constructive project to throw yourself into.
Agree on a regular time to connect, such as every Thursday at 6pm. Use this time to catch up on what’s happening in one another’s lives.
Social media also lets people stay in touch across great distances. As long as they update their feed often, you’ll be in the loop.
All you need is connection to the Internet and you can do simultaneous activities during a Skype or Hangouts video call. You could also “meet up” in a virtual reality room no matter how far away the person is. For example, a game like Rec Room (for Playstation 4) allows you to meet up and participate in virtual reality activities with someone.
You might raise money for a English scholarship if your friend loved literature. Or, if they died in a car accident, you might advocate to have the street changed to their name or have better road signs placed in their honor.
