Lincoln Daily News 2026-27 Health & Wellness Magazine Pg.31 activities they previously enjoyed or lose interest in their work or hobbies. With your loved one gone, normal activities do not feel the same. To effectively cope with grief it is important to find strategies to alleviate the symptoms. For example, discuss with those close to you how you are feeling and work to develop closer bonds with them. Having support from your friends and family is very important as you work through your grief. Dare to allow yourself to experience the pain of the loss rather than attempting to avoid it. When you ignore the feelings brought about by the loss, it can actually prolong the process of grieving and make it even more difficult to move forward. One helpful strategy may be to find ways to pay tribute to the person you lost. Donating money, starting a scholarship in their name or volunteering for a charity they supported are ways to honor their memory. Planting a tree or garden in their memory, making a scrapbook or photo album, putting together a memory box or writing about them in a journal are other helpful ways to pay tribute. Another list of coping strategies encourages, “exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, breathe deeply, use relaxation skills, cut back on commitments, limit sugar, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine use.” Take care of yourself even when you don’t feel like it. Self-care can reduce stress and improve both your physical and mental health. Make sure to spend time with family and friends and not isolate yourself. Though it is fine to say “no” to some social functions, withdrawing too much from social life can lead to loneliness and depression. As you give yourself time to grieve, you may also take breaks from grieving to counter being overwhelmed emotionally and
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