Widow fog comes as no surprise to us widows as we are distracted and have a lot on our plates. We can’t seem to focus and have lost interest in any hobbies that we used to do. Feeling unfocused is perfectly normal in in the world of a “widow”. There are lots of studies showing that high-stress lowers our ability to focus and also lowers our energy level.
If you feel overwhelmed and that your attention is broken, be kind to yourself. Here are a few tips to help you boost your energy and focus:
- Acknowledge how you are feeling – it soothes your spirit.
- Give yourself a “worry window” and if anxiety starts tell yourself, “I will worry later when my worry window is open.” Example: 6:30 to 7:00 every evening. Take this time to write it all out in your private journal.
- Take 15 minutes daily to focus on an object (any object). This easy exercise trains your mind not to wander and stay focused.
- Deep breath exercise. As soon as you feel lost and anxiety is high, stop and take deep breaths. That will lower your heart rate and stop anxiety provoking thoughts.
- When we have a sense of accomplishment we feel focused. It doesn’t have to be big results as small wins also inspire us.
Grief causes fatigue, difficulty concentrating and a lack of sleep. It’s no wonder we suffer from “widow fog”. These issues can also make us more anxious and depressed, which often causes us to go on anti-anxiety medications.
If “widow fog” is over taking your life the one easy and no cost thing to do is walking. Walking boosts our moods and energy which will help with our concentration. Simply breathe deeply and focus on feeling your arms and legs as they move.
Can’t get outside? Use a home walking App, DVD’s or go to YouTube and do a search for “walking at home”. A little bit of movement is a great outlet to raise our energy and express your emotions. It needs to become a way of life, even if it’s only ten minutes a day.
Only you can do this, one postive step at a time. That effort is a commitment you make to yourself.
Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows
#thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport, #widowsupport, #howtogrieve #widowshelpingwidows
Diana Graham
Thank you for this. I woke up in a complete “fog” and I was wondering what on Earth was happening. I’ve been a widow for 10 years and I STILL fall into this feeling 😔
Terri
This is so much of what I am dealing with. It’s been 15 months since my husband passed. I’m still so foggy
Luanne
Good reminders for us all, thank you!
Sharon Mack
Sometimes I don’t realize that I’m in a fog but acknowledge that I’m not able to remember things or make decisions like I used to.