From anger and fear to loneliness and depression, a divorce is a world-shattering event that can bring waves of difficult emotions. And although we might often feel like our lives have completely stopped during a divorce, the world does go on, and we still might have a number of work responsibilities to tend to. However, staying tough and professional is easier said than done when we are going through so many changes and emotional disruptions. In an effort to maintain your focus and stay productive at work when dealing with a divorce, here are some strategies that might help:
Talk to your superiors
While this might entirely depend on the workplace, for those who have open, honest, and supportive superiors with whom they are comfortable communicating, letting them know what you are currently going through could be of great help. Whether you need a smaller workload, fewer distractions throughout the workday, or even some time off during this period, keeping your superiors in the loop might make them more willing to offer the help and support you need. In case your former partner presents a threat to your health and safety, notifying your superiors of your divorce could also be important if your ex ever attempts to harass you in the office.
Don’t feed into gossip
When it comes to the rest of the workplace, on the other hand, it might be best to keep them in the dark, even if you do notify your superiors. This period will be difficult enough without being the subject of office gossip and having to answer intrusive questions from curious colleagues every couple of minutes. If anyone does ask you what’s wrong, you might want to opt for more generic replies or even avoid the topic entirely. Keeping your calm can be quite challenging during such emotionally draining periods, meaning your professional relationships could suffer as well if you allow your feelings to get the best of you.
Contact a family lawyer
Sometimes, the divorce itself isn’t what’s hindering your focus and productivity, but rather constantly stressing about how the divorce will impact your children. In these instances, people in Australia, for example, often hire firms experienced in Family Law from Essendon that help them ease their worries. Such professionals have enough expertise to not only aid in navigating the legal system, but also understand the emotional toll divorce can take on families, thus helping individuals achieve the best possible outcome for their children and themselves. If you need help with these complex issues as well, family lawyers can be a great solution for navigating the hurdles of difficult property and parenting matters during a divorce.
Avoid non-work messages
In places like the US, however, blocking all unnecessary and non-emergency communication is quite a common practice. Here, individuals avoid texts, calls, and emails from their legal teams, as well as any friends and family, until after working hours, in an effort to minimize distractions and prevent themselves from constantly thinking about their divorce. You need to stay alert and focused on the job at hand, and there’s truly nothing that could derail your train of thought quite as quickly as bad news from your lawyer or an argument with your former partner, which is why it’s recommended to get into the habit of blocking communications as well.
Create new routines
As your personal daily routines begin to change during a divorce, it’s only natural for your work habits to shift as well. For instance, if you were used to texting your former partner throughout the day or going out with them after work, you might need to find an alternative. Walking over to a coworker’s desk to chat instead of picking up the phone or going out for drinks after work with colleagues rather than your ex can all be great options. All of these solutions will help to keep your mind busy and allow you to stay productive and focused on things outside of your divorce.
Take it one step at a time
Divorce is a significant life event that can often feel devastating. To help speed up the healing process, breaking everything down into smaller sections and focusing on feeling a bit better every day can be a wonderful solution. And the same can be applied to your work schedule as well. Rather than thinking about your entire workload and feeling overwhelmed, try to divide your responsibilities into smaller tasks you can complete more easily. Even if you don’t particularly feel like working, focusing on smaller tasks will allow you to boost productivity, get everything done, and take your mind off the divorce, even if it is just momentarily.
Divorce can be an incredibly difficult and demanding process that could impact all aspects of your life, including your work. However, your professional life doesn’t have to suffer, as long as you create new routines, get appropriate help, and take it one day at a time.
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