Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

356 — 5 Ways to Stay Mentally Strong at Work When Your Personal Life Is Falling Apart

Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

Show Notes

Have you ever had to walk into work and act like everything was fine while your whole life was falling apart? Maybe you're going through a divorce, fielding calls about an aging parent between meetings, or you received a scary diagnosis the day before a big presentation.

Quitting usually isn't an option, and "just leave it at the door" isn't much help either. Today I'm sharing five of the biggest struggles people face when they have to keep showing up during a personal crisis, and the mental strength play that helps with each one.

Some of the things I talk about are:

How I got myself back to work, and in front of clients, after my husband died.

The difference between compartmentalizing and suppressing, and why one helps while the other catches up with you later.

Why telling yourself "don't think about it" makes intrusive thoughts worse, and the simple scheduling trick that quiets them.

How to handle kind coworkers who keep asking how you're doing (often the hardest part of the day).

What to consider before telling your boss what's going on.

Why work can suddenly feel meaningless, and how the 10-minute rule gets you moving anyway.

The "smile file" I kept in my filing cabinet, and how to build one on your phone before you need it.

The one question to ask on your drive home when it feels like you've lost all control.

Why these plays get you through a workday but not through the crisis itself, and what that bigger job requires.

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