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4 Ways to Practice Self-care While Grieving

Blog Content Creator • Mar 28, 2022

After the loss of a loved one, grief can come about in ways you didn’t expect. Our care team at Affordable Burials and Cremations recognizes that each grief journey is different, and it is important not to compare your experience with grief to others. However, one common aspect of grief is the necessity to practice self-care.

While grieving, it is easy to neglect your own physical needs. You may be finding it difficult to do things that used to seem simple— washing your hair, cleaning your space, or eating breakfast. After a death has occurred, the last thing you may be thinking about is yourself. Our experienced staff has gathered a list of ways to practice self-care while grieving:  

Incorporate Movement into your Routine

While exercise may be the last thing on your mind, gentle exercise like yoga, jogging, swimming, or walking can brighten your mood. Especially if you practice movement near or around nature, exercising can alleviate some of the stress you may be feeling. While exercise cannot extinguish your grief, the release of endorphins you experience can help propel you forward during these difficult days.

Eat Nourishing Meals

While grief can often cause a loss of appetite or disinterest in food, it is crucial to prioritize eating balanced meals. What you eat has a huge impact on your well-being, both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, when we’re experiencing deep sadness, nutrition choices can be overwhelming, leading us to reach for the most convenient option. While it is always important to honor your cravings, eating nutritious meals will help you maintain your energy to make it through the day. By keeping your meals simple but healthy, you accomplish something you can do for yourself during this time.  

Play Comforting Music

Listening to a favorite artist, discovering a new song, or playing an instrument all positively impact both our physical and emotional health. A sad song can comfort your sorrow, while a happier song can help lift your spirits, even if it is momentary. When you are having trouble expressing thoughts and feelings, a particular song may help you find the words you need and remind you that you are not alone. Music can serve as a form of relaxation, help with meditation, and offers solace.

Surround Yourself with Supportive Friends

After the recent loss of a loved one, it’s easy to want to isolate yourself or avoid interaction, but now is the time to lean on the people you love. Fortunately, any of the above activities can be shared with a friend or family member. Meet for a hike, plan to cook together, or just sit together and share how you’re feeling, if you are comfortable. Spending quality time with those who care about you and will listen to you can serve as a necessary reminder that you do not have to experience this loss on your own.

People in your support network are most likely eager to help you out, whether it’s preparing a meal, shopping for groceries, helping around the house, or offering childcare. Even if you take pride in being self-sufficient, it is important to reach out for something when you need it, so that you may better focus on your personal healing during this time.

There is no right or wrong way to process your grief, and healing does not operate on one timeline— inevitably, the process is complex and takes time. Above all, remember that you do not have to walk through your grief alone. Seeking support through a grief counselor or therapist can be vital to healing from loss. At Affordable Burials and Cremations, we want to support our Toronto community in any way we can. Contact us at any time for support or view our other grieving resources on our website.

19 Oct, 2023
The death of a beloved friend or family member is one of life’s greatest challenges. Our staff at Affordable Burials and Cremations sees firsthand how a loss can turn the world upside down, creating unfamiliar feelings and unexpected reactions. Grief often affects a person physically, emotionally, and even spiritually, as they struggle to adjust to life without their loved one in it. Taking part in a grief group benefits you embracing the opportunity to express feelings with others who understand what they are going through. Some who have lost a loved one wonder if a support group could ever help them. They are so mired in their grief they can’t even imagine sitting down in a room of strangers. But support groups are a time-tested method of help for people struggling with all sorts of difficulties – and grief is among them. That said, it’s important to find a support group that works for you; one that is free of judgement, offers guidance, validation, and reassurance. Here are four groups our team recommends: GriefShare – Support online and in person for adults grieving a loss GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. Web Healing – Interactive Grief website Web Healing, the internet’s first interactive grief website, has served the bereaved on the net since 1995. It offers grief discussion boards where men and women can discuss issues related to grief and healing or browse recommended grief books. The site’s originator, Tom Golden, LCSW, is an internationally known psychotherapist, author, and speaker on the topic of healing from loss. The Compassionate Friends – Support after the death of a child Whether your family has had a child die (at any age, from any cause), or you are trying to help those who have gone through this life-altering experience, The Compassionate Friends exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process. The Compassionate Friends has been supporting bereaved families after the death of a child for four decades. Remember, no matter where you are in your grief journey, you can always turn to us for advice and assistance. We’ve been serving families in the Toronto area for more than 50 years now and have many connections and numerous resources available. You can c ount on us to be there for you – always.
19 Oct, 2023
1. Personalized service: Family-run businesses often provide a more personalized experience for their customers, as they may have more invested in the success of each individual customer. 2. Long-term focus: Family-run businesses prioritize long-term success over short-term gains, as they are vested in passing the business down to future generations. 3. Agility and flexibility: Family-run businesses are more agile and flexible in responding to changes in the market, as they do not have to go through multiple layers of bureaucracy to make decisions. 4. Stronger relationships: Family-run businesses have stronger relationships with their employees, as they view them more as family members than as just workers. 5. Community ties: Family-run businesses have stronger ties to the local community, as they have deep roots in the area and be more committed to supporting local initiatives. 6. Greater trust: Customers trust family-run businesses more than corporations, as they view them as more authentic and less focused solely on profits. 7. Innovation: Family-run businesses are more innovative in their approach to business, as they are more willing to take risks and try new things in order to stay competitive.
19 Oct, 2023
Cost: Cremation is often less expensive than traditional burial because it eliminates the need for a casket, embalming, and cemetery plot. Environmental impact: Cremation has a smaller environmental impact than burial because it doesn’t require land for burial or the use of embalming chemicals. Flexibility: With cremation, the family has more flexibility in terms of when and where to hold a memorial service, as the ashes can be kept in an urn or scattered in a location of their choice. Religious and cultural acceptance: Cremation is more widely accepted in many religions and cultures than it once was. Space-saving: Cremation allows for more efficient use of space in cemeteries, which can be a concern in some urban areas.  It’s important to note that burial also has its advantages, such as providing a physical place for loved ones to visit and providing a sense of closure for some people. Ultimately, the choice between cremation and burial is a personal one and should be based on individual preferences, beliefs, and cultural practices.
By Blog Content Creator 17 Jun, 2022
When a family in Toronto is considering cremation instead of traditional burial , they may wonder if their options are limited or even impersonal – but this is definitely not the case when you choose Affordable Burials and Cremations . More people in Toronto and around Canada are choosing cremation than ever before, and our caring team will explain how we can meet your needs and wishes in creating a meaningful tribute without sacrificing the healing, traditional elements of a burial.
By Blog Content Creator 15 Jun, 2022
Beyond the many demands of assisting with a loved one’s healthcare, caregiving encompasses much more. Childcare responsibilities, help with schoolwork, and limited access to services have been heaped onto many – not to mention the general toll that caregiving can take over time.
By Blog Content Creator 15 Jun, 2022
At Affordable Burials and Cremations we’ve noticed in recent years that more and more people are planning their own funeral. And some choose to do it rather early in life – many as soon as they retire. These people realize that not only are they taking the opportunity to express their own desires about their farewell, but they’re also removing a huge burden from their family. When the time comes, there will be no guessing and no arguments about what they would have wanted. Everything will be easily accessible for you.
By Blog Content Creator 23 May, 2022
Throughout our lives, we collect quite a few things possessions: furniture, clothing, knickknacks, books, and more. When a family member dies , they leave their belongings behind along with the question, “What should you do with all of this stuff?” It’s no surprise this is a highly sensitive issue, as these items serve as a visible reminder of someone who meant so much to so many.
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Throughout our decades of experience at Affordable Burials and Cremations , our caring team has been asked many times by families in the Toronto area what it’s like to be in deathcare, and whether our work is somehow depressing and morbid. While it is true that the work we do here is not easy, we always respond that above all else, our work is immensely rewarding. It is a tremendous honor to have someone entrust to you the planning of a loved one’s final farewell . We are also constantly inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the family bond when facing a loss together. It is true tragedy often brings out the best in people.
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