Good Self-Care

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Taking Good Care of Yourself

Losing a pet can be very emotional and stressful, sapping us of energy and making it difficult to function. Taking time to care for yourself physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually will help ensure you have the necessary strength to work through your grief in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Here are a few ideas for good self-care:

• Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule as much as possible. If lack of sleep is interfering with daily functioning, consider speaking with your doctor.
• Consider getting a stuffed animal to snuggle with at bedtime or any time you need a comforting hug.
• Snuggle or sleep with your pet’s favorite blanket or toy.
• If your appetite is affected, eat small meals or nutritious snacks throughout the day rather than large meals.
• Stay well-hydrated and avoid over-use of alcohol or caffeine.
• Try to get some sunshine and fresh air daily if at all possible.
• Take short talks, ride a bicycle, or engage in gentle exercise such as stretching or Yoga at least once a day.
  
• Meditate, pray, or allow yourself some quiet time to reflect.
• Count your blessings. It may help to recognize that, although you have lost your beloved pet, you still have people, pets, or other meaningful things in your life to be thankful for.
• Get a massage or soak in a nice, warm bath to pamper yourself.
• Consider aromatherapy to help reduce stress.
• Get in touch with a close friend or others who may help support you as you grieve your loss.
• If someone asks how they can help, tell them what you need.
  
• Practice taking deep breaths in through the nose and slowly out through your mouth. You can repeat this as needed. Deep, mindful breathing can greatly help with anxiety.
• Give yourself permission to cry when you feel sad, or pound a pillow with your fists if you feel angry.
• Seek help from a pet loss specialist or licensed therapist if you need a little extra support.
• Try journaling as a way to express your feelings, or to capture special memories.
• Read a good book. This can be related to pet loss, something inspirational, a good mystery or novel, or anything that you might be interested in.
• If you like music, listen to something that you find uplifting and that nourishes you.
• Take a class in something you have always wanted to learn.
• Return to a hobby that you enjoyed in the past.
• Consider volunteering at a pet rescue or donating in your pet’s memory.
• Take a “grief break” from time to time so that your natural coping mechanisms have a chance to recalibrate.
• Take care of something living, such as another pet or a garden.
• Plan a special outing.
• Keep a To Do List so that daily chores feel less overwhelming.
• Give yourself permission to say No to others and Yes to yourself when you need to.
• Create a sacred space for keepsakes related to your pet.
  
• Practice being forgiving and compassionate with yourself.