How to Cope with a Bank Holiday When You’re Grieving a Loved One

Bank holidays are usually a time for relaxing with loved ones, but when you’re grieving a loved one or coping with loss, they can feel especially painful. If you’re struggling with grief this bank holiday, you’re not alone.

This post shares ways to cope with grief during bank holidays and introduces a supportive grief community where you can find comfort and connection.

How do you survive the bank holiday when you’re grieving a loved one?

Do you go out and face seeing ‘happy families’ and feel that deep ache of grieving a loved one, knowing the person who once made you happiest is no longer here?

Or do you stay indoors and embrace another lonely few days trying to keep busy with meaningless tasks?

Or do you spend time with other women who know exactly what you’re going through because they are going through it too?

Why Bank Holidays Can Feel Harder When You’re Grieving

After my partner Paul died, I was faced with three bank holidays in quick succession, each one a painful reminder of life after loss and how hard it can be to cope with grief when the world seems to be celebrating.

First we had Easter, then closely followed by the early May bank holiday, and then the late May bank holiday.

If weekends are hard, then bank holidays are unbearable.

They are a time to spend with loved ones and enjoying life.

But my loved one had died and enjoying life was the furthest thing from my mind. I was barely remembering to feed my children let alone taking part in any activity that brought me joy.

It’s been 14 months since he died, and even now, coping with grief during bank holidays still has a sting in its tail. The loneliness of loss can creep in, even when life feels a little lighter

Bank Holidays amplify the loss and although I am able to find small moments of joy in life, I would give anything to share them with him.

Coping with Loss When Everyone Else Seems Happy

And this is why, on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May, I’m hosting a letter writing workshop for women who have lost a spouse or partner. It’s a gentle space to find connection after loss and cope with grief together

Last bank holiday I chose to take on a pet sitting job, I find that looking after peoples' pets helps to distract my mind from the fact that it isn’t me going away on a Bank Holiday. It’s a good distraction, but it’s not a solution. The band aid still needs to get ripped off, but it’s painful.

The majority of my friends take the opportunity of a bank holiday to focus on jobs in the home that need to be done or enjoying family life. My children are now young adults and have their own lives so don’t always want to use their time off from work to ensure that their mum is ok.

I know I’m not the only widow, or the only person struggling with grief during bank holidays. There’s a whole grief community out there, all feeling the same ache of bank holiday loneliness.

Healthy Ways to Spend a Bank Holiday After Loss

What if there was a way that we could spend time on the bank holiday where we didn’t feel alone, where we could see that we aren’t the only ones experiencing loss, and we could find connection?

What if we could spend time on a bank holiday doing something productive that included sharing those precious stories of our love ones with people who understand.

What if we didn’t have to leave the house yet still felt part of something.

Guess what?

There is and its called the Letters After Loss Letters on a Long Weekend.

Finding Comfort and Connection Through a Grief Community

If you’re grieving a loved one and coping with loss feels especially heavy this bank holiday, you don’t have to face it alone. Our Letters After Loss community offers a safe, understanding space where widows and those who’ve lost a partner can come together, share their stories, and find comfort through writing.

Join Our Letters After Loss Workshop for Connection and Healing

That’s why I’m hosting a special bank holiday grief support workshop - a gentle hour of connection, reflection, and healing through letter writing.

This is the perfect place if you want to be with other women who share the same dread of bank holidays as you and want to know that they are not grieving alone.

How Writing Letters Can Help You Heal After Loss

During this hour workshop we will come together online over Zoom (cameras off or on) and we will sit and write together. There are four types of letters you can chose to write and I will guide you every step of the way.

If you chose to write to another lady on the workshop then once you pop your letter in the post, you will receive a lovely letter back in exchange.

Your writing space is the perfect opportunity to share those precious stories and keep the memories alive. You don’t need to explain anything because these are the people who get it.

What if writing letters to a stranger feels daunting?

Don’t worry I’ve got you covered. I wrote a blog post about how to write your first letter which you can read here>>> How to Write a Letter to Your Pen Pal but the workshop is the perfect place for you.

I will guide you through what to write with a few prompts. I am sure that once you start writing it will all flow naturally.

What happens after the workshop?

If you wish you can pop your letter in the post to our safe PO Box address and once received it will be sent on unopened to another lady from the workshop. In return you will receive a lovely letter back from someone else from the workshop.

Your address is not shared with anyone and your letter is only read by the recipient. There is something so special about receiving a handwritten letter through the post.

Is this how the pen pal membership works?

Yes, with the exception of that the person you exchange letters remains the same and friendships form. If after the workshop you decide to join the membership then you get the £3.95 cost of the workshop taken off your first months membership fee.

Having a pen pal brings so many benefits when you are grieving and I wrote a post about the benefits here >>> 5 Reasons To Have A Pen Pal

Here’s what one of the members recently shared about having a pen pal.

"I know how hard it can be to find people who truly understand the place we find ourselves. It can also be a very lonely place sometimes. The idea of writing and sharing appeals to me . I would have been concerned about sharing address etc , but having a middle (wo)man takes that concern away. I really enjoyed writing my letter and it was a lovely feeling when I received one . I would recommend this , if you enjoy writing and learning about others and maybe make a new friend then this could be for you"

If you’re dreading the bank holiday and coping with loss feels too heavy to do alone, join me and other women who understand. Together, we’ll find comfort, connection, and hope through Letters After Loss

Join Our Bank Holiday Writing Workshop

Join us this bank holiday to find comfort, connection, and healing through writing. Sign up here >>> Letters on a Long Weekend Workshop