3 Tips for Returning to Work While Grieving
There’s no denying that the last year has been difficult for just about everyone. People have had to deal with the loss of loved ones, living with fear, changes with school, changes with routine, and life in general. An estimated 22 million Americans even lost their jobs.
If you’re lucky enough to still be working, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not distracted. Many people think of grief as something you only experience when someone dies. But, that isn’t necessarily true.
Grief is the result of any type of loss. That includes the loss of a sense of normalcy. Needless to say, many people are grieving right now. That can make it difficult to stay focused on work, even if you own your own business.
So, how can you return to work while you’re still grieving or trying to work through a loss?
Stay Positive
The idea of staying positive might sound easier said than done. But, think of it this way; doing positive things and having a good attitude probably goes against everything your grief wants you to do.
You probably feel like doing nothing. Fight back against that by filling your days with positive and productive things, especially in the workplace. That doesn’t mean you should ignore your grief – just the opposite, actually. But, distracting yourself from it, even for a few hours each day, can make it easier to work through your emotions without feeling overwhelmed by them.
Let Others Help You
Your instinct might be to shut people out and try to deal with your feelings of loss on your own. Maybe you even want to take your distractions too far and pile as many things on your plate as possible.
But, weighing yourself down will only add to your stress levels, and it could even make your grief worse, or put you at risk of depression or anxiety.
Let people help you in the workplace. If someone offers to do something, accept it. Understand that they are trying to help you because they care about you, and want to see you back to your full potential. Don’t take on too much all at once, and you’ll end up working through your grief faster.
Don’t Go Back Before You’re Ready
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is returning to work too early after experiencing a loss. Again, distraction can be a good thing. But, not if your mind and heart aren’t ready to start moving on.
Try to find some kind of personal closure with what you’ve lost before you go back to work. That doesn’t mean you need to forget about what or who you’ve lost.
Work will always be there. While it’s important to get back into a routine, make sure you’ve accepted your feelings, and you’re ready to move forward with your life before taking that step back into normalcy again.
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