Grief doesn’t pay attention to the calendar. It arrives without warning and doesn’t take a break during the sunshine and warmth of summer.

For many people, summer is the time for fun, vacations, and extra time with family and friends. When you’re grieving, however, the warmth of the season is replaced with the chill of loneliness and pain of loss.

There can be a disconnect between your outside world and what’s going on inside. How do you deal with the challenge of those conflicting worlds? Let me give you five ways to look at your summer while grieving. This will also help those of you looking to support someone reeling from a loss.

Five Ways to Experience Summer While Grieving

1. Make room to allow grief and joy to walk together

Say yes to joy when it shows up because it will help you heal. Let yourself have moments of summer time relief and if it feels wrong to have joy and grief walking together, wisdom says that the sooner joy and grief can walk together, the better.

2. Create new traditions to replace outdated ones

When you feel the pain of no longer having that loved one with you to go on your annual camping trip, what would it look like to start a new tradition with someone else? This may be hard to do but imagine laughing again and creating new memories with people you enjoy spending time with.

3. Put limits on the amount of socializing you do

Grief often makes it very difficult to be with people. Accept that. But at the same time, be open to small bursts of socializing that will meet your need for genuine connection. Connection is key while grieving but it’s OK to obey that inner voice that says, “That’s enough for one day. It’s time to go.”

4. Spend time in nature

Time in nature helps us to take our eyes off our inner struggle and put them on the beauty we see around us. Something happens when we feel the wind on our face, hear the birds singing in the trees, or watch the waves crash up on the shore. Nature can shift our mood and help heal our soul.

5. Find new ways to care for yourself

Summer offers multiple self-care opportunities. It’s a time you can plant a tree in memory of your loved one, enjoy an outdoor concert, float down the river on an inner tub, or sit in a lawn chair and read your book. Be creative as you think of something you can do for yourself that will bring life and joy.

Reflection Question

Is there someone grieving in your life you could support this summer?
What tradition can you start that will bring life to your struggle?
What’s another way you can grieve thoroughly this summer?

Check out my new book:
Unlocking the Mystery of Grief

Summer Time Grief