How to Prevent Your Divorce from Ruining Your Career

Going through a divorce isn’t like a weekend trip – it’s going to have a major and lasting impact on your life that extends well beyond your personal sphere.  Whether you’re the one initiating the divorce or you’ve been blindsided by your spouse’s divorce filing, whether you have to separate property and split custody or not, divorce can leave you feeling sad, angry, frustrated, weary, and generally unable to cope with everything in your life, including work.

Unfortunately, bills have to get paid, which means you have little choice but to continue working.  With at least one party moving out of a residence, legal issues to address, and court dates to attend (not to mention figuring out a schedule for kids, if you have them), you may find yourself having trouble focusing at work, calling in sick, and generally neglecting your duties, which does not bode well for your continued employment.  What can you do to prevent your divorce from ruining your career?

Let Your Employer Know What’s Going On

Showing up late, missing days, and delivering subpar performance is unacceptable.  However, most employers are very understanding about the difficult situations in life that many adults face, and they’re willing to give you some leeway if you let them know your circumstances.

You’re going to need some time off, for starters, since court dates often coincide with business days and standard work hours.  Your employer will be more inclined to accommodate requests if you’re upfront about the reason.  There’s also a possibility that your work offers resources like counseling services to help employees cope with difficult personal setbacks.  When you keep your employer in the loop, you may be able to take advantage of such benefits.

Try to Remain as Professional as Possible

There may be times when you feel overwhelmed.  This is natural considering the stressful circumstances you’re facing.  However, even understanding employers can’t necessarily condone significantly reduced performance or breakdowns in front of coworkers and clients.

As much as possible, you should try to keep it together while you’re at work.  An experienced and qualified therapist should be able to help you come up with some coping mechanisms to compartmentalize so you can focus on work and remain professional when the situation demands.

Find Ways to Reduce Stress

You have a lot on your plate when you’re going through a divorce, and you simply may not be capable of maintaining your usual break-neck pace.  Reducing stress at work and in your life could mean saying no to unnecessary obligations so you have more time to breathe and cope with the situation at hand.

It could mean seeking support services or setting aside time for yourself.  You may need to delegate some tasks to others, both at work and in your personal life.  It can be hard to ask for help, but if the end result is that you keep your job and maintain your health, it’s worth it.

If you’re suffering stress due to divorce proceedings, let the experienced professionals at The Gucciardo Law Firm do some of the heavy lifting for you.  Contact us today at 248-723-5190 for legal guidance and representation.