Breakups dont just kill romancethey can disrupt nearly every area of your life.
If youre having trouble staying productive during a breakup, here are some ways to power through it.
Of course, its important to go through all of the stages of mourning andproperly heal from your breakup.
Healing is part of that, but heres how it’s possible for you to stay productivewhileyoure healing.
Focus on Smaller Tasks
Youve probably heard to take things one day at a time.
Its cliche, but its true.
Getting over a breakup is sort of like any other goal.
It helps to break the healing process intosmaller, digestible steps.
Thinking about the weeks or even months youll have to endure heartbreak is overwhelming.
Instead, focus on getting through the pain for that day, or even the next few hours.
you could translate this concept to your work, too.
But take it one task at a time.
Focus on powering through just the one task at hand.
Dont think about the next one until you get there.
I tried this when I went through a breakup years ago.
When I thought about long-term work projects, I felt defeated.
I thought,how am I to get through this for the next month feeling this crappy?
But rather than sweep your feelings under the rug, it helps to work through them.
One study inSocial Psychology and Personality Sciencesuggests that periodically reflecting on a breakup can actually help you heal faster.
Researchers studied 210 people who recently went through a breakup.
The first group recovered better.
you’re free to periodically reflect by taking an occasional break throughout your workday.
Learning might mean talking through the breakup with a friend so you’re able to better understand it.
It might mean reading articles like this, on how you might cope with things.
The purpose of an emotional interrupt is to progress from the heartbreak and regain emotional control.
For me, ithelped to journal.
It helped to put it on paper, because I could clear my head and focus on work.
It also gave me permission to reflect, so I wasnt distracted all day trying to ignore my emotions.
I knew Id have time to deal with them later by journaling.
But Dont Dwell, Either
On the other hand, journaling doesnt work for everyone.
In some cases, it could make things worse.
Some people might naively call this avoidance, but its not avoidance.
It is just re-engagement in life, and the control writing asks people to engage in this process.
Find the right balance based on your own situation and personality.
Ignore Your Phone
You probably know its best to cut communication with the ex while youre recovering.
This gives you time to think about things rationally on your own.
This might mean turning it off.
If thats not possible, it might mean blocking your exs number.
If your ex could email you, you might avoid checking your personal account while youre at work.
It also helps ensure you wont text friends throughout the day to talk about the breakup.
Again, it does help to work through your emotions and learn from them.
There are a few habits that can help get through this challenge.
Again, keep things professional and only discuss business.
Youll have to try a bit harder to think of your professional life as separate from your personal life.
Asweve explained before, when you love someone, you usually integrate them into your day-to-day routine.
When theyre gone, you dont know how to handle the lapses in that routine.
In fact, it can be a lot like an addiction.
Youll have to kick the habit.Weve suggestedreminding yourself that reestablishing your routine is part of reclaiming your independence.
And it can help you feel stronger to change that routine up a bit.
Change the routine youre used to by leaving the office and having lunch with a coworker instead.
Fill that space with another routinegoing to the gym, perhaps.
You want to establish new, independent routines that put an end to those emotional triggers.
This not only helps you stay more productive, its also an important part of healing.
When youre dealing with a breakup, it can feel like your world is turned upside down.
Its hard to stay focused and productive during that time.
But the above steps should help you regain a little more control as you heal.
