After cremations as part of the cremation services offered in Macomb, MI, grieving settles in and all the things that need to done come piling in on us. The combination, along with having, in a very short period of time, to go back to school or go back to work, where even more demands will be place on us can be so daunting that we simply forget to take care of our own needs and health.

Grief takes a tremendous toll on mental health, physical health, and emotional health. The added pressures of doing all that needs to be done after a loved one dies and having to carry on our normal lives can have even more devastating effects.

So, it’s important to take time regularly to take care of ourselves. There are many ways we can incorporate self-care into our lives.

When we’re home on the weekends, we should try to make time for a nap during the day. Stress needs rest, but this also gives us something to look forward to during the week, which can help improve our moods.

Exercise is one of the best ways we can take care of ourselves. Instead of going to or joining a gym, we should cancel all those memberships and just get outside and do something. Whether we decide to walk (get good walking shoes for the lowest impact on the joints), run, ride a bike, or even skateboard, moving is good for the brain and the body.

Being outdoors while we’re exercising gives an additional benefit of being able to see all the beauty that is still around us, and it gives us a quiet and serene place to think, to plan, and even to grieve.

Another way we can take care of ourselves are the death of someone we love is to learn to say “No” to the things that will deplete our energy and put more of a burden on us. That includes things like trying to stay as busy as possible so we don’t have to deal with our loss and our grief, as well as laziness with our loss and grief as a justification.

Anything done often enough can become a habit, and these are two habits that are destructive to self-care.

Also, learn to say, “No,” to people. Whether it’s our bosses at work asking us to take on one more project when we’ve already got all we can handle or it’s a friend who insists that we need to get out of the house and do things, four or five times a week.

Healthy eating is another way we can take care of ourselves after a loved one dies. In the initial days after their death, the eating was probably not as healthy as it could have been. For the body to heal and be able to counteract the stress of grieving, a healthy diet is paramount.

Our bedrooms need to be set up so that they are conducive to us getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep is naturally disrupted when someone we love dies: first, during the funeral process itself and second, after we’re home alone after everyone has gone back to their lives.

Quality sleep is one of the best ways we can take care of ourselves because it reduces stress levels, improves heart health, improves brain function, and allows the body to repair itself.

For more information about cremation services in Macomb, MI, our caring and knowledgeable staff at Lee-Ellena Funeral is here to assist you. You can visit our funeral home at 46530 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb, MI 48044, or you can call us today at (586) 412-8999.