Sorry Taylor, just because you can do it with a broken heart doesn’t mean you should. Of course staying busy is an excellent way to avoid thinking about things you’d rather not but that doesn’t mean you’re adequately dealing with your grief. Jumping into work may seem like the answer to your problems, but ignoring what’s bothering you isn’t the answer. So instead of creating thousands of reels about how you cry a lot and are still productive, let’s take a closer look at healthier ways to run a business (or just existing) through grief.

P.S Still a Swiftie

Be Kind to Yourself 

We all deal with grief in different ways, but grief is something we all need to process at one time or another. Powering through your daily life isn’t sustainable when you’re burying your feelings. So if you feel yourself falling behind, breaking down, not being able to do the things you used to be able to do as efficiently or as well as before, be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Tearing yourself down isn’t a way to build yourself back up.

Take Time Away 

Have you ever sat in your office having a bad day and nothing you did made it better, no matter how hard you tried? Do you remember stepping away and all of a sudden you either had a moment of clarity or just began to see things differently? The same happens when you take time away from your business to heal. Of course, this is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible. Take some time to see what parts of your business can be automated, what parts most need your attention and see if you can offload some of your workload to a coworker or a freelancer. Even if you can’t take 100% of your time away, it’s worth looking into how you can get some help

Don’t be Afraid to be Honest

Let’s take a look at our girl Taylor. She’s not the average human. She’s a billionaire because she writes honest music about her grief and her experiences. This is why we love her and why we listen (and purchase). This is why she can be productive in her grief, because this is HOW she makes her living.

We can still learn from her though. Her honesty in her storytelling is what sets her apart. Do yourself a favour and be as honest as she is in communicating your feelings. Write it down, tell a friend, have an honest discussion with your family. The key here is to be real, to be honest with yourself and with your grief. We may not make millions from doing it but it is the best way to work through your emotions, organize your thoughts and move forward.

Ask for Help

I think it’s a common trait of many entrepreneurs, and especially solopreneurs to ask for help as a very last resort. Why is that? Is it because we think it’s a sign of weakness? Is it because we think of ourselves as superhuman and can do everything on our own? A sense of hyper independence that we hold as a badge of honour? Asking for help is far from a sign of weakness. Look at it this way, there are actually people out there that want to help you. That want to see you succeed. Learn to let go of the reigns and ask for help from people you trust. 

Reflection Time

Whatever you choose to do, just know we all grieve in different ways. There is no right way and no wrong way. What’s important here is to recognize when something isn’t working for you. To recognize when your work is suffering. When your work is suffering, people will notice it no matter how you try to hide it. You don’t want your reputation to suffer and affect your business just because you were too stubborn to accept that you yourself were suffering.

Do yourself and your business a favour and realize that running a business through grief is not business as usual. Nor should it be. Nor should we consider it a badge of honour. Instead of letting yourself and your business suffer, make sure you are properly dealing with your grief rather than jumping into something that makes you avoid dealing with it properly. You shouldn’t run a business with a broken heart unless you’ve taken the time to heal.