"When people are grieving, I highly recommend trying to say 'no' more often, trying to reduce demand," Dr. Wang said. "So much of our emotional energy is being taken up by the grieving and the mourning that it makes it hard for us to then have extra reserves to handle other aspects of our lives."
How long you establish those boundaries will depend on how overwhelming your grief is. "I would actually argue grief is something that is a lifelong journey, and it simply becomes heavier or lighter to carry in terms of its weight," Dr. Wang said. Instances where it might feel heavier, are around death anniversaries or birthdays of deceased loved ones. This is a time when she recommends reinstating boundaries.
Moffa added that you shouldn't force yourself to be around people all the time — know your limitations for that — but it's also crucial, in her opinion, to be able to identify when you're isolating yourself.