It’s officially summer here in the city! It is a time to enjoy yourself and your family. There are many things to enjoy in the summer: baseball, swimming, sleeping in, and live music! But if you’ve experienced the death of a loved one, everything you love about summer may be different.
You may be looking at all your normal activities through a different lens, or you may not feel motivated to do anything. Or you may have the inclination to fill up your and your family’s schedules so there’s little downtime to think. Sometimes grief is more intense in the summer – it’s hard to be sad when everyone else is having fun and being carefree.
Here are some tips that may help someone who is impacted by grief in the summer:
1. Try activities you used to enjoy and see if they are a good fit. If they’re not, that’s OK! If they are, continue to enjoy them!
2. Try an activity in a new way that honors or remembers the person who died. For example, if you lost your uncle who loved camping, plan a camping trip in his honor.
3. Go outside, take a walk, ride a bike, go for a swim. Sunshine helps us produce Vitamin D to help our bodies with its chemical balance.
4. Find others who share your experience. Find a Bereavement Summer Camp, or churches that may offer grief support groups.
5. Remember: it’s OK to have fun and enjoy life after death. Talking to your children and family about summer break can help children address emotions they may not know how to express.
