Let’s face it. We cannot always keep our personal lives from interfering from our professional ones no matter how hard we try. Problems such as a divorce, a death in the family, a break-up in a relationship, illness of a family member, and financial difficulties cannot be helped. To downplay any one of them is ridiculous yet as professionals, we are compelled to do so, at least during work hours. So how do we keep ourselves sane during these troublesome times?

Take a short leave of absence so you can take care of the bulk of the problem. A few days off to mull things over without the distraction of work will do you and your career good. Check with your human resource department or your employer about paid absences of which you can avail. So by the time you get back to work, you may already have sorted out most of your problems.

Accept the support of other family members, friends, co-workers, the community, and the church. You are not the only person who has or has had that problem. You may be surprised with the number of people who could give you comfort and sound advices.

Get counseling. It is always good to be able to someone who can offer an objective view of your problem. A good counsel will not only listen to you but he will also be able to help you think through things clearly. There are lots of organizations that are needs-specific that can help a person during crisis. If your company offers free counseling, then avail of this service (but this may not be the best option if you wish to keep the fact that you’re seeking counsel a secret).

If you have free time and some free schedule, why not get into an altruistic activity? Do some volunteer work for the church or community. Sometimes, helping others help heal one’s own wounds.