There’s no other time when we need to practice self-care more than when we’re dealing with death care. Planning funeral services is an extremely stressful process for most people. In addition to dealing with the death of someone close to you, funeral services need to be arranged on top of everything else that’s going on in life.
If you find yourself in that position, here are some simple ways to practice self-care while dealing with death care.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care refers to actions that are taken to improve your general well-being. It can involve mental health, physical health or both.
Self-care is important for maintaining well-being on a regular basis. However, when you are faced with extra stress or a difficult challenge, it’s especially important to focus on self-care.
Ways to Practice Self-Care When You’re Arranging Funeral Services
Take Walks in Nature
The combination of walking and being in nature is powerful for our physical and mental well-being. Many people don’t realize that even though walking is low impact, it’s one of the best forms of exercise that almost anyone can do.
More and more health experts are also stressing the importance of getting outdoors since the average person spends over 93% of their time indoors. Being in nature is so effective at reducing stress and improving mood that you can feel the benefits after just 5-10 minutes of being outdoors.
Read Whatever You Want
Research has revealed that one of the most effective and quickest ways to destress is by reading. It’s also a great cognitive task that can promote brain health as we age. The best part is it doesn’t matter what you read. Simply reading is enough to bring your stress levels down, so choose something you enjoy.
Get Extra Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is extremely beneficial for cognitive function, which is important when you’re making death care decisions. But recent studies have found sleep is also directly connected to mood. The REM stage of sleep acts like an internal therapist, helping to process memories and emotions from the day before. By increasing REM sleep you can improve:
- Response to emotional stimuli
- Emotion regulation
- Positive emotional expression
It may be challenging to get extra shut eye while you’re arranging funeral services, but prioritizing sleep will make the process much easier.
Hang Out With Your Favorite People
If you are upset about the loss of a loved one, your natural reaction may be to withdraw and be alone. While quiet time by yourself can help calm your mind and emotions, socializing is an effective form of self-care. Spending time with people that uplift your spirits and care for you is the type of support that can get you through the most difficult of times.
If the thought of being around others seems overwhelming, try spending short amounts of time with just one or two other people who have a calming presence.
At Direct Cremate we do everything we can to reduce the stress of death care. Our direct cremation services are simple, affordable and efficient. You can arrange cremation services remotely without ever having to leave your home.
Contact us by phone or text for assistance arranging a direct cremation.
