Holidays can be hard, especially for those who have lost loved ones. Being without a family member or friend during the holiday months can often cause many to feel alone or depressed. In the past three years, over half of Americans have experienced a major death; however, there are several ways for people to cope with their grief during the holidays.

One way to deal with grief during the holidays is to create new traditions, as doing so is a way for one to distract themself from their feelings. A new tradition could be watching a certain movie every year or baking a new holiday recipe. This can help create memories detached from that person.

Another way to deal with grief is to do things that often remind you of the person you have lost or honor them in some way. This could include sharing stories about them with others. For dinner celebrations of holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, you could leave a seat open for the person. For Christmas, buy an ornament that reminds you of them. For Hanukkah, light a candle in honor of them. A donation to a charity could be made in their name. To honor them, watch their favorite holiday movie, listen to their favorite holiday song or make their favorite holiday food.

Another way to cope with grief during the holidays is to prioritize self care. If you feel uncomfortable at an event, do not stay if you want to and put yourself first. Make sure you get enough rest and exercise during this time. Another way to prioritize self care is to buy a treat or small gift for yourself like a coffee.

The most important way to cope with grief is to talk to someone about how you feel. Reaching out to a friend, teacher, family member or trusted adult to talk about what your emotions can make you feel better. Keeping your emotions bottled up can cause you to feel worse about yourself. It is normal to feel sad during the holidays, so do not pretend like you are doing fine. Being outward with your feelings could inspire others to do the same and surrounding yourself with your loved ones could help you feel more secure.

There are many ways to help cope with your emotions regarding the loss of a person important during the holiday season. Using various strategies will help you feel better, even if it is only temporary. Grief does not have to ruin your mood or holiday season.