As the calendar turns to 2025, the world feels ready to embrace fresh starts and bold resolutions. Yet, if you’re grieving, the idea of a “new year” can feel overwhelming. Instead of excitement, it might bring a deep sense of loss or fear of moving forward without the person—or the life—you once had.
The start of a new year doesn’t have to mean leaving your grief behind. In fact, it can be a time to honour where you are and take gentle steps toward healing, at your own pace.
1. Reframe the Idea of New Beginnings
The pressure to make drastic changes or set ambitious goals can feel suffocating when you’re grieving. Instead, think of the new year as an opportunity to reflect, not reinvent. Small shifts, like incorporating moments of self-care or reconnecting with a hobby, can bring quiet joy without forcing you to “move on.”
2. Honour What’s Missing
Creating space for your loss in the new year can help ease the tension between holding on and letting go. Whether lighting a candle, journaling or sharing memories with loved ones, find ways to acknowledge the person or life you’re missing. This act of remembrance can be a grounding ritual amidst the noise of January’s “fresh start” energy.
3. Adjust Expectations
It’s okay to approach 2025 differently from previous years. You may feel less social or find traditional celebrations unappealing. Give yourself permission to adjust your expectations and communicate your needs to others. Grief often changes our capacity for connection and activity, and that’s okay.
4. Create a Grief-Friendly Resolution
If you’re drawn to the idea of setting a resolution, focus on intentions that nurture your healing. This could mean committing to rest, exploring a new way to process emotions (like art or therapy), or simply allowing yourself the grace to grieve without judgment.
5. Find Connection
Grief can feel isolating, especially during a time of year focused on togetherness and forward momentum. Connecting with others who understand your journey—whether through support groups, friends, or a coach—can provide comfort and perspective as you navigate the year ahead.
6. Embrace the Messiness
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and it certainly doesn’t fit into neat resolutions. There will be good days and hard days, moments of laughter and waves of sadness. Let 2025 be a year where you meet yourself with compassion, accepting the messiness of grief as part of your ongoing story.
The new year can be daunting when you’re grieving, but it can also offer a quiet invitation to find moments of peace and healing. However you choose to step into 2025, know that there’s no right or wrong way to carry your grief into the future. Take it one moment at a time, honouring both your pain and your resilience.
If you’d like support in your grief journey, I’m here to help. Together, we can navigate this new year with intention, care, and hope. Other helpful resources include The Good Grief Trust, Cruse Bereavement Support, and Grief Journaling ideas.