How to Practice Self-Care During Grief

Self-care during grief is essential for healing, especially for moms who have lost a child. Losing a child affects every part of your life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s so important to take care of yourself as you’re walking out your healing. In this post, we’ll explore faith-based self-care tips and ways to continue walking out your healing. (Plus download your free grief self care checklist at the end!)

Self-Care During Grief

Caring for yourself during grief is not easy. I know because I’ve been there. In the early days after I lost Sam, taking care of myself was not something I was focused on.

But since grief affects every part of you, it’s so important to take care of yourself. To start taking those steps into your healing.

There are lots of different ways to practice self-care while you’re grieving. In this post, I’ll share…

+The importance of self-care during grief
+Faith-based practices that can support you
+Common challenges you may face
+And practical strategies to help you grow and heal

These tips are designed to give you encouragement and guidance for your own healing journey.

By the end, you’ll understand how to take care of yourself without guilt and find simple ways to create peace and strength in your day. Plus, you’ll get a free Daily Grief Self-Care Checklist to help you implement this self-care practice one step at a time.

Stay with me – you don’t have to walk this road alone.

Why Self-Care is Essential During Grief

When you think about self-care, what image do you come up with? Is it soaking in a bubble bath with an eye mask on? Or is it laying face down on a massage table and a towel around your head?

Self-care during grief is not these things. Self-care during grief is something completely different than the “normal” self-care ideas.

Self-care during grief is about surviving, healing, and eventually thriving again.

The grieving process can take a significant toll on your mental health, energy levels, and overall well-being. You can experience physical symptoms like trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, and mental exhaustion. Without intentional self-care, these symptoms can worsen, leaving you feeling like receiving healing is impossible.

However, thinking about taking the time to care for yourself during this difficult time can seem overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to focus on small, daily actions to help restore a sense of control in times of grief.

Small actions like deep breathing, spending time with a trusted friend, or enjoying a nutritious meal can provide comfort and stability when everything else feels chaotic. Self-care also supports your emotional and spiritual healing by giving you space to process the pain of grief at your own pace.

Including regular self-care practices, especially when partnered with Jesus, can remind you that you are not alone. As you start taking care of your body, mind, and spirit (all partnered with Jesus), you can face the days ahead with hope and grace.

Faith-Based Self-Care Practices for Moms

Self-care during grief is important, but if it’s not rooted in Jesus, you will find that it’s empty. Because, as I’m sure you know, Jesus is the ONLY way we’re able to make it after losing our child.

However, when you join your self-care routines with your faith, you will experience hope and strength.

Here are a few ideas of ways to infuse faith into your self-care to help you on your healing journey:

1. Spend Time with God. Start or end your day with prayer, reading the Bible, or listening to worship music. Simply being in his presence will fill your heart and mind with his peace. I have lots of resources to help you in this area. Here are just a few:

+Easy Three Step Quiet Time With God Routine
+Free Monthly Topical Bible Reading Plans for Grieving Mothers
+Journey into the Heart of the Father Scripture Plan

2. Breathe Deep. There is actually scientific evidence of the benefits of deep breathing, especially when done outside. You can read about those here. So when those moments of grief start to weigh in on you, stop, take a big breath in through your nose, and then slowly blow it out like you’re blowing a candle out. Then repeat a verse that will bring you peace, like “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”

For more verses you can use in situations like this, click here for a free download.

3. Nutritious Meals and Rest. Nourish your body with a balanced diet of healthy foods and prioritize sleep. It’s so easy to let this part go after losing your child, however, taking care of yourself physically will help every part of your healing journey – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

4. Gentle Exercise. Regular exercise like walking outdoors can help improve your energy levels and provide moments of connection with God and his creation. Walking outside has played a big role in my healing journey after losing Sam. Here are 3 Ways Walking Outside Can Play a Role in Your Healing Journey.

5. Creative Outlets. Journaling, creating a memory box, or other simple activities can help you process your grief while focusing on hope and growth. Rediscovering who you are after losing your child can be hard, but I think it’s so important in learning how to keep living.

Every step you take with Jesus in your healing journey, you’ll find the strength and comfort you’ll need to keep going.

Overcoming Common Self-Care Challenges

Taking care of yourself during grief can feel overwhelming. You might even struggle with guilt, feeling like prioritizing your needs is selfish or something you “shouldn’t” be focusing on right now.

However, it’s important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” approach to your healing. You have to do what feels right in the moment. And if you’re partnered with the Holy Spirit, he will lead you to exactly what your heart needs at each step of your healing.

Or you might be thinking, I have no time. Everything that fills your day to day life – work, homeschooling, caring for your house and family – all of that can make finding time for self-care seem impossible.

One way to overcome these challenges is to start small. Focus on simple things, like taking deep breaths when stressed or spending five minutes in prayer.

Rebuilding your physical and emotional strength will take time, and giving yourself grace to heal at your own pace is so important!

Remind yourself that by taking good care of YOU, you’re giving yourself the strength you need to walk out your healing – and you can do it all in honor of your child. Self-care isn’t about avoiding grief. It’s about equipping yourself to face it with hope.

Personal Growth Through Faith and Healing

Grief changes you. It changes how you see yourself and the world. Personal growth in your grief is not about “moving on” but about finding ways to live with purpose while you walk out your healing.

And faith plays a super important role in this process. There’s no way that we can walk out our healing on our own strength. Our hearts are too shattered to even attempt to do this on our own.

But the great news is, we don’t have to!

God has promised us that he will be with us every step. Psalm 34:18 says that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

That’s good news. If what you’re feeling at this moment is broken and crushed, this is a great promise for you to cling to!

Personal growth through grief doesn’t have to be big steps forward. It can come through small, intentional actions, such as setting small goals to regain a sense of normalcy or finding social support with others who understand your pain.

These small steps help shift your focus from survival to rebuilding, enabling you to rediscover joy and hope in your life.

Practical Personal Growth Ideas

Personal growth doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Even small, meaningful actions can help you regain a sense of purpose and hope. The key is to focus on what feels manageable in your current season of grief.

Here are a few ways to begin nurturing growth in your life:

1. Set Simple Goals. Start with simple goals like re-establishing a daily routine, starting your day with Jesus, or spending intentional quality time with your family.

2. Explore New Hobbies. Try new activities like gentle exercise or creative projects like starting a blog of your own. These new hobbies can create moments of joy and help give you a new purpose in life.

3. Journal Your Reflections. Use journaling prompts to reflect on your healing journey, gratitude, and moments of progress.

Each of these steps allows you to reconnect with yourself and your faith, helping you build a new normal at your own pace.

Want a few simple ways to get started? Check out 5 Simple Self-Care Practices for Grieving Moms for practical, manageable ideas you can try today.

Encouragement for the Journey

Healing after the loss of a child is a long and deeply personal process. It’s important to remember that you are not alone. God is with you every step of your grief journey.

Some days will feel heavier than others, but with faith, self-care, and personal growth, you can begin to find moments of peace.

Remember, there is no wrong way to grieve. Give yourself permission to grieve in your own way and at your own pace. Surround yourself with support groups, whether it’s a close friend or other grieving moms who understand your experience.

And the most important thing to remember? Lean on Jesus. He is so faithful and will pour healing on your heart, one piece at a time.

Download the Free Grief Self-Care Checklist

Taking care of yourself during grief can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. This Grief Self-Care Checklist offers simple, practical self-care activities to help you nurture every part of you – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Download the checklist today and take your first step toward healing. Start experiencing care, comfort, and a plan that works for your unique journey. Click here to get started!

How to Practice Self-Care During Grief