“I think we should just be friends.”
“It’s not you, it’s me.”
Returning to work after a break up (or other types of personal angst) can certainly be a tough pill to swallow.
We’ve all had those days at work that just seem unbearable. Whether it’s because of a break up, a fight with a friend/husband/family member, or other personal drama, work can develop into a self-inflicted prison.
So what do you do? Treat work as an escape, a refuge, a safe haven. (Read more of Victor Kipling’s ‘Work as a Benefit‘)
Use work as an avenue to pleasantly disengage your brain from the unrelenting what ifs, what happens now, and the tortuous blame games.
Here are a few steps to start the healing process and get you back on track at work.
1.
The honest and unfortunate truth is that depending on the severity of your situation, escaping into work will not always be immediately possible. Each drama-filled situation is unique and it typically will require a few recovery days. Embrace these recovery days, whether they are spent at home or slacking at work.
2.
Evaluate your workload. Are you responsible for an existing project that can capture your interest? If not, it is time to set up a meeting with the big guy (or woman). Explain that you need an additional challenge and not only will you escape into your work, you will ultimately impress your boss.
3.
Put a safeguard in place to ensure your focus remains on work. The last thing you want to add to your plate is a failed project at work on top of a failed relationship or friendship. Confide in a friend at work to have them hold you accountable.
There is no easy fix for personal problems. However, leaving them separate from work shows a high level of professionalism that your boss will surely notice. Better yet, using work as your refuge can put the drama into perspective and help out your personal life.
What is the best way you have found to balance personal struggles with work?
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