How to Cope with Holiday Grief: A Step-by-Step Worksheet on Self-Care, Traditions, Family & More

Описание: The holiday season can be one of the toughest times when you're grieving. Memories, traditions, and societal expectations can feel overwhelming, making it difficult to find joy or even peace. In this episode, grief therapist Heather Stang shares her personal story of navigating holiday grief while offering compassionate, practical tips using the Grief-Sensitive Winter Holiday Planner. Learn how to create a personalized plan to cope with grief, manage social events, adjust traditions, and honor your loved ones — all while tending to your emotional well-being.

Links to Resources Mentioned:

📄 Winter Holiday Planner Worksheet: https://heatherstang.com/holiday-plan...
Download and personalize your plan.

🤝 Awaken Grief Support Group: https://heatherstang.com/grief-group/
Join Heather's supportive online grief community for ongoing guidance and connection.

📚 Heather’s Books on Grief and Healing: https://heatherstang.com/heather-stan...
Navigating Loss, Living with Grief, and From Grief to Peace.

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Introduction & Personal Story: Heather's personal experience with holiday grief after the loss of her uncle.

[06:00] - Why the Holidays Are So Hard: The emotional challenges of holiday grief, including societal expectations, disrupted routines, and family dynamics.

[10:00] - Coping Techniques Overview: Introduction to the Winter Holiday Planner and how it supports emotional navigation.

[11:30] - The Butterfly Hug Technique: A grounding exercise to help manage emotional overwhelm.

[13:00] - Facing Emotional Triggers: Identifying holiday triggers and developing coping skills.

[18:00] - Planning Self-Care Routines: Creating a daily, weekly, and monthly self-care schedule that builds resilience.

[24:00] - Building Your Support System: How to find support, manage expectations, and deal with difficult people.

[30:00] - Attending or Skipping Events: How to assess your emotional capacity, evaluate event significance, and say "no" with grace.

[36:00] - Honoring Traditions or Letting Them Go: Deciding which traditions to keep, modify, or release while creating meaningful new ones.

[43:00] - Including Children in the Process: Age-appropriate ways to involve children in holiday grief rituals.

[47:00] - Closing Thoughts & Resources: Additional grief resources, books, and ways to connect with Heather Stang.

The holidays are often painted as a time of joy and celebration — but when you're grieving, they can be some of the hardest days of the year. In this compassionate and deeply personal episode, grief therapist Heather Stang shares her insights on navigating holiday grief using her Winter Holiday Planner Worksheet. Drawing from her own life experience and professional expertise, Heather provides heartfelt guidance to help you create a customized plan that supports your unique needs during this emotionally charged season.

You'll learn how to:

• Acknowledge and Validate Your Feelings: Discover how naming your emotions can ease the heaviness of grief.
• Cope with Holiday Triggers: Manage the inevitable emotional reminders tied to songs, traditions, and special dates.
• Create a Personal Self-Care Plan: Establish daily, weekly, and monthly routines that nourish your mind and body.
• Find and Lean Into Support: Identify your support network while managing challenging relationships with grace.
• Navigate Social Events: Evaluate invitations, say "no" kindly, and set boundaries that protect your emotional health.
• Honor and Transform Traditions: Keep meaningful customs, adapt old traditions, or create new ones that celebrate your loved one’s memory.
• Support Grieving Children: Learn age-appropriate ways to involve children in the healing process.

Heather also shares practical tools like the Butterfly Hug technique, reflective journaling prompts, and personalized coping strategies that you can implement immediately. Whether you're facing your first holiday without a loved one or navigating the season after years of loss, this episode offers compassionate guidance, emotional validation, and actionable tips to help you find moments of peace.

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