Planning a funeral can be both stressful and overwhelming. It can be very difficult to make decisions when you’re grieving a loved one, particularly as you want to give them the best send off possible. When the grief of losing a loved one is coupled with the responsibility of planning a funeral, stress can quickly take over.
There are lots of things you can do to reduce the stress of planning a funeral. While the process of planning a funeral won’t likely be enjoyable or pleasant, there are steps you can take to reduce anxiety and feel more at ease about funeral planning.
Plan funeral arrangements in advance
The more time you give to planning a funeral, the easier it should be. While you may find it difficult to plan a funeral in advance, it can make the process easier to deal with in the long run. As your loved one begins to age and their passing becomes more evident, it’s wise to start putting preliminary funeral plans in place.
Many people feel stressed about being able to afford a funeral while giving their loved one the send off they deserve. When a loved one has just passed away, it can feel heartless to think about money – but there are lots of tasteful, appropriate options available to meet budgets of all sizes. Planning ahead and having a clear idea of budget beforehand is key – and don’t forget to include insurance benefits or saving accounts in your budget.
Prepaid funerals
Many people today choose to pay for their own funeral in advance. There are plenty of prepaid funeral plans available that enable you to cover every possible cost of your own funeral, saving your loved ones stress, confusion and arguments during a difficult time. Paying for your funeral in advance at today’s prices will help to save money and reduce costs, which is something to consider if you want to relieve your family from some of the stress of planning your funeral.
Organise important documents
Many people don’t even realise how much paperwork is involved when planning a funeral. Funeral arrangements involve a lot of documents and paperwork, so it’s important that you have all of these to hand to make the process easier. It’s a good idea to compile the deceased’s essential documents from the start, so that you’ve got all of the documents organised and ready.
These documents should include birth and marriage certificates and insurance policies. You’ll need the medical certificate of the cause of death, along with their NHS number or NHS medical card and organ donor card. Gather the appropriate documents and put them all together in a folder so that you have access to them whenever you need.
Disorganisation can increase your stress levels, so it’s important that you stay organised and on top of everything. Of course, this can be difficult when you’re grieving, so make sure you’ve got someone on hand to help you keep documents organised.
Share the load of planning the funeral service
There’s no getting around the fact that planning a funeral is stressful. Funeral planning can be exhausting, stressful and overwhelming, and it’s important that you take care of yourself during this period. Delegating certain funeral tasks to other family members or friends can help take some of the weight off your shoulders and make the planning process easier. Planning a funeral by yourself can be a difficult thing to do, so if you can share some of the responsibilities with other people, we recommend doing so.
Asking family members or friends to help you plan and organise the funeral will also allow others to voice their ideas and input, ensuring that everyone has their say. Simply sharing the weight of funeral planning can make the process easier, and you can all lean on each other for support.
Get support and talk to someone
The combination of dealing with a loved one’s death and planning their funeral can take a toll on your emotional state. When planning a funeral, you can become focused on meeting the needs of others or honouring your loved one, but it’s very important that you look after yourself during this time and pay attention to yourself too.
Building a reliable support network is key. Whether it’s your friends, family members, a fully-trained bereavement counselor or a support organisation such as Cruse Bereavement Care, talking to someone about how you’re feeling and what you’re going through can be extremely helpful. If you’re not eating balanced meals or getting adequate rest, this can put a huge strain on your mental and physical health, which is why it’s important that you look after yourself.
There is no easy way to deal with grief, but reaching out and talking to someone is the right place to start. Don’t suffer alone – there are plenty of options available to help you cope during this difficult time. Even just talking about how you’re feeling can provide comfort.
Keeping a routine and healthy lifestyle is important. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to jump straight back into work during this difficult time, but try to maintain some sort of routine. This could be simply walking your dog each day or cooking meals for the family at the usual times. Try to maintain your normal sleeping routine, and avoid relieving your grief with things that are bad for your health, such as alcohol, smoking or gambling.
Seek the help of funeral directors
When planning a funeral, funeral directors are a great resource to use and they can help make the planning process less stressful for you. With years of experience, funeral directors can answer all of your questions regarding the funeral and put your mind at ease. Navigating your way through the funeral planning process can be difficult, and you mind find it stressful to get your head around certain parts.
Funeral directors will be able to answer your questions and reassure you when you feel confused about any part of the service. If you choose to purchase a package of funeral services, many funeral homes have great options to help make the planning process easier. Funeral directors can discuss all of the options available to you to ensure that you make the right decisions for you.
Taunton Funeral Service: independent family-run funeral directors in Taunton
At Taunton Funeral Service, we have a combined 80 years of experience working as funeral directors. As family-run, local funeral directors, we understand how important it is to ensure that the funeral you plan is personal. Our empathetic, knowledgeable and friendly team offer professional services for families who need to arrange a funeral for their loved one.
We are on hand to help you with all aspects of funeral planning, and can offer a bespoke and personalised service that meets your requests. We’re available to help at all hours of the day, every day of the week, providing support and practical advice for those who need it.
At Taunton Funeral Service, we understand that planning a funeral can be stressful and overwhelming, which is why we are dedicated to making the process as simple as possible for you. Our compassionate funeral directors can recommend options based on your culture, preferences and budget to ensure the funeral is what your loved one would have wanted.
Losing a loved one is never easy, but you’ll have our full support and assistance during your time of grief. From the moment you contact our friendly team, you can rest assured that we’ll offer you guidance, support and compassion in your bereavement.