How to manage work when going through a personal crisis

Balancing the demands of work while navigating a personal crisis can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a divorce, or other life-changing events, maintaining productivity while prioritizing emotional well-being presents a difficult challenge.

Yet, as many experts emphasize, finding equilibrium during these times isn’t just about pushing through. It’s about giving yourself grace, seeking support, and redefining what success looks like in both your personal and professional life.

Here are some actionable strategies that can help you navigate these tough moments. Whether it’s restructuring your workflow, leaning on your team, or allowing space for self-care, these five insights offer a path to finding balance when a personal crisis arises.

Utilize your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Testing times call for all the support you can get. At the workplace, this support can be something as simple as turning to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Remember that these programs are literally designed to help you during difficult moments, and it’s your right to use them.

Depending on your company, EAPs can offer everything from confidential counseling services to financial advice, and even legal resources. Some of them even extend their services to family members, which means you’ll receive support for childcare, eldercare, and family counseling. If you’re not familiar with what support you’re entitled to, you can always reach out to your HR department and they’ll help you contact your EAP provider.

Alfred Polizzotto, managing partner, Polizzotto & Polizzotto, LLC

Redefine productivity for emotional balance

We all experience moments when life suddenly throws us off course—whether it’s a family tragedy, divorce, or other personal crises. Yet, our reality is that work often continues, leaving us torn between showing up for our responsibilities and attending to our emotional well-being.

How can you balance it all?

Here’s a counterintuitive strategy that has worked for me: redefine productivity.

Instead of seeing productivity as the number of tasks completed, think of it as your ability to effectively navigate your emotions while staying engaged. This shift isn’t just about getting things done but managing how you show up—making small, incremental progress each day, even if it means saying “no” more often.

For example, try breaking your day into smaller tasks, focus on the most important items, and don’t hesitate to ask for a break or to adjust expectations. It’s okay to approach things differently during these times. The aim is sustainability, not perfection. By redefining productivity, you can meet your work obligations and build resilience, which benefits you and your organization in the long term.

And, after all, honoring your emotional bandwidth is one of the most strategic moves you can make!

Etty Burk, Ph.D., president and founder, EttyBurk.com

Partner with management to adjust workload

From my experience, when employees go through personal crises, like the loss of a loved one or a divorce, it’s important to approach their well-being and work with empathy. One of the most effective strategies I’ve seen is helping them prioritize their tasks. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed during tough times, and trying to handle everything at once only adds to the stress.

By breaking down tasks and identifying the most urgent or high-impact ones, employees can focus on what needs to be done without spreading themselves too thin. At our company, we encourage employees to communicate openly with their managers so they can adjust workloads or deadlines as needed. It’s not about lowering expectations but about being realistic with what can be achieved when personal energy and focus are understandably limited.

In practice, this means they should concentrate on key responsibilities while letting go of less-critical tasks temporarily. This not only helps them manage their professional obligations more effectively but also gives them mental space to process their emotions and heal. Balancing work and personal life during a crisis is tough, but with the right support and prioritization, it becomes much more manageable.

Tiago Pita, brand director and marketing expert, Whole Food Earth

Communicate openly and prioritize self-care

When employees face personal crises, balancing work responsibilities can be a daunting challenge. It’s important to remember that everyone responds differently to stress, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, to manage work responsibilities, consider communicating openly and honestly.

Let your supervisor know about the situation, especially if it’s affecting your ability to work. This will allow them to provide support and accommodations if needed. You don’t have to reveal specifics, but be sure to explain how the crisis is impacting your work and if there are any specific tasks or deadlines you may need to adjust.

One of the most important recommendations for balancing emotional well-being and professional obligations during personal crises is prioritizing self-care. Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for coping with difficult emotions and maintaining productivity.

Remember to be kind to yourself, seek support from family, friends, or a therapist, and work with your employer to take time off, adjust your hours, or work from home. When you’re in the office, take breaks, go for a walk, and meet with your EAP practitioners. If you’re not at your best personally, you can’t perform at your best professionally. Prioritizing self-care lets you better navigate challenging times and find a healthy balance between your personal and professional life.

Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, CEO, Carol Parker Walsh Consulting Group

Document workflows for easier support

Nobody will be like, “Oh, no worries. My paycheck can be late because someone in accounting is on bereavement.” That’s why I recommend, especially as someone in finance and accounting, to always be ready to ask for help. That could mean always documenting those processes, even if it is just adding an instruction page to your spreadsheet or keeping notes online.

The key is to make it easy for someone to understand things quickly and jump in to support you because you’ll need it during those tough times.

Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA, CFO, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs