By Zina Nguru

One thing is certain: we will all experience loss at some point in our lives. Be it the loss of a loved one, a life-changing opportunity, good health, a limb, or a relationship that you held high hopes for but has run its course. Yet despite this immutable truth, grief still catches us by surprise each time it visits and shakes us to our core. It is for this reason, especially during seasons of grief, that it is imperative we intentionally engage in activities that nurture our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, which acts as a buffer, helping us to go through grief and hopefully grow through it, and that right there is the definition of self-care.

Grief is widely defined and understood as a natural response to loss. It is complex, as is perturbing in the sense that its manifestation varies from individual to individual, with no timeline to it. Grief impacts both the body and mind and thus can and does severely impact one's physical and mental health. According to Nneka M. Okona, the author of Self-Care for Grievers: How to Comfort Yourself When You’re Grieving, when grieving, it is vital to tap into self-care even more regularly to sustain yourself as you heal, feeding energy reserves that are being depleted rapidly due to the loss and the resulting impact from it.

To achieve this, it is recommended to start small, by incorporating a few self-care practices each day for at least two weeks, drawing from the four key areas of wellness. Physical self-care focuses on movement, maintaining good hygiene, developing a consistent sleep routine, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated. Emotional self-care involves expressing your feelings by reaching out to trusted friends, family, or a therapist, identifying your needs, allowing yourself to feel without judgment, setting healthy boundaries, and avoiding grief isolation. Mental self-care includes practicing stress management, organizing your tasks with to-do lists or reminders, using affirmations, setting small achievable goals, and being mindful of negative self-talk. Lastly, spiritual self-care encourages joining a spiritual community, reading spiritual texts, spending time in prayer or meditation, and exploring your personal beliefs.

Grief can be unforgiving to say the least; however, through careful and intentional inculcation of self-care activities into daily living, you may find that what once seemed insurmountable begins to feel bearable and with that the hope of a better tomorrow.

The Counseling Center cares and is ready to support you in your grief journey. If you feel overwhelmed and are finding it difficult to cope and adjust to normal functioning after a loss, we encourage you to talk to a professional counselor. Kindly feel free to walk to the Freida Brown Student Center on the Second Floor, right wing, or book an appointment by registering on the shared link and booking a slot for a session: https://counselling.usiu.ac.ke/. You could also send an email to counsel@usiu.ac.ke or call 0730116748 and request to talk to a counselor.