--- title: Challenges of returning to work — My Good Grief description: Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences a person can face. It's a time of great sadness, grief, & mourning. As a grief expert, I know the journey through grief is a long & difficult one. If you're a widow, you may be facing a unique set of challenges. image: https://www.adaptdna.com/hubfs/images/blog/woman%20at%20desk%20with%20coworkers.png --- [Request a conversation](https://www.adaptdna.com/contact-us?hs_preview=dWccBXos-190073760562) [![Adaptdna](https://www.adaptdna.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Adaptdna%202025/Images/Adaptdna.png?width=292&height=54&name=Adaptdna.png)](https://www.adaptdna.com/) [Request a conversation](https://www.adaptdna.com/contact-us?hs_preview=dWccBXos-190073760562) - [Home](https://www.adaptdna.com/) - [ABOUT](https://www.adaptdna.com/about) - Cheryl's Story - [Cheryl's Story](https://www.adaptdna.com/about#story) - [Cheryl's Grief Journey](https://www.adaptdna.com/about#journey) - [Testimonials](https://www.adaptdna.com/#testimonials) - Workshops - [Professional Women](https://www.adaptdna.com/professional-women) - [Beyond the Setbacks](https://www.adaptdna.com/beyond-the-setback-program-registration) - [My Good Grief](https://www.adaptdna.com/workshops/2-month-good-grief-program-new?hs_preview=aNavTwru-191086224020) - [The Big SIX Starter Program](https://www.adaptdna.com/the-workshops/the-big-six-starter-program-new) - [7 Stepping Stones Workshop](https://www.adaptdna.com/workshops/7-stepping-stones-new?hs_preview=ouCmNrKM-191086449201) - [Workplace and Organizations](https://www.adaptdna.com/workplace-and-organizations) - [Mental Health in the Workplace](https://www.adaptdna.com/workshops/workplace) - [Teens and Parents](https://www.adaptdna.com/teens-and-parents) - [Becoming Me - Mental Health for Teens Program](https://www.adaptdna.com/beyond-the-setback-program) - [Free Resources](https://www.adaptdna.com/free-resources) - Professional Women - [Back to Work Play book](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/back-to-work-playbook) - [7 Stepping Stones to Reclaiming Your Life After Loss](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/7-stepping-stones-to-reclaiming-life-after-loss) - [Discover Your Grief Style](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/discover-your-grieving-style) - [The Big SIX eBook](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/the-big-six-ebook) - [Discover Your Adaptability Quotient](https://www.adaptdna.com/discover-your-adaptability-score) - [Breaking Free from Overwhelm](https://www.adaptdna.com/breaking-free-from-overwhelm-webinar) - [Eisenhower Matrix Templates](https://www.adaptdna.com/eisenhower-matrix-template) - Workplace and Organizations - [Workplace Survey](https://form.jotform.com/251436976139265) - [Discover Your Adaptability Quotient](https://www.adaptdna.com/discover-your-adaptability-score) - [Discover Your Grief Style](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/discover-your-grieving-style) - [The Big SIX eBook](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/the-big-six-ebook) - [Breaking Free From Overwhelm](https://www.adaptdna.com/breaking-free-from-overwhelm-webinar) - [Eisenhower Matrix Templates](https://www.adaptdna.com/eisenhower-matrix-template) - Teens and Parents - [The Calm Code](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/calm-code) - [Blog](https://www.adaptdna.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.adaptdna.com/contact) # The challenges of returning to work 2 minute read Author: [Cheryl Parker](https://www.adaptdna.com/blog/author/cheryl-parker) Apr 11, 2023 [![](https://www.adaptdna.com/hubfs/images/blog/woman%20at%20desk%20with%20coworkers.png)](https://www.adaptdna.com/blog/my-good-grief-learning-center/2023/4/11/challenges-of-returning-to-work)   Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences a person can face. It's a time of great sadness, grief, and mourning. As a grief expert, I know that the journey through grief is a long and difficult one. And if you're a widow who is returning to work after losing your spouse, you may be facing a unique set of challenges. It's not easy to return to work after the death of a loved one. You may be struggling with overwhelming grief, anxiety, and depression. You may also be dealing with practical challenges, such as adjusting to a new routine, managing household responsibilities, and coping with financial stress. As you navigate this difficult time, it's important to remember that you're not alone. Many other widows have been through this experience and have successfully returned to work. And with the right support and guidance, you can do it too. One of the key challenges you may face is staying focused at work. Grief can be all-consuming, and it can be difficult to concentrate on your job when you're overwhelmed by emotions. As a grief expert, I can help you develop strategies for managing your grief and staying focused at work. This might include practicing mindfulness, setting boundaries, and finding ways to take care of yourself during the workday. You may be a person that welcomes the daily routine of work, and others find the routine grueling. Some may welcome the familiarity of their co-workers around them, others may find it intrusive and even exhausting to have others around. You may be someone that would rather be distracted by working towards a deliverable or deaeline at work, and others may really struggle trying to do what came easily to them before the death. There is no right way to be in any of these situations. It's just YOUR way.  Another challenge you may face is rebuilding your life while you learn to live again. After the death of a spouse, everything can feel different. Your routines, your relationships, and even your identity may have changed. As you return to work, you may be struggling to find your place in the world again. As a grief expert, I can help you navigate these changes and find a way to move forward. We can work together to identify your strengths and values, and create a plan for rebuilding your life in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you. Finally, it's important to remember that grief is a process. There's no timeline for how long it will take to heal, and it's normal to experience ups and downs along the way. As you return to work, you may have good days and bad days. But with the right support, you can find a way to move forward and create a new sense of normalcy in your life. In conclusion, returning to work after losing a spouse can be a difficult and challenging experience. As a grief expert, I can help you navigate this journey, stay focused at work, and rebuild your life in a way that feels meaningful and authentic. Remember, you're not alone. With the right support, you can find a way to move forward and create a new sense of normalcy in your life. Here are some other free resources if you would like to learn more: [![7-stepping-stones-ebook-cta-720x324](https://www.adaptdna.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/ctas/7-stepping-stones-ebook-cta-720x324.png?width=720&height=324&name=7-stepping-stones-ebook-cta-720x324.png)](https://www.adaptdna.com/offers/7-stepping-stones-to-reclaiming-life-after-loss)   ![Cheryl Parker](https://www.adaptdna.com/hubfs/Imported%20sitepage%20images/Cheryl.png) ### Article by [Cheryl Parker](https://www.adaptdna.com/blog/author/cheryl-parker) Cheryl Parker is a certified grief expert who has been working with clients for 17 years. She is a grief and wellness coach who helps clients to empower themselves and work through areas of their life where they are stuck. Cheryl specializes in assisting clients to release the pain caused by losses such as death, divorce, mental health issues, job loss, loss of financial status, retirement, empty nesters, loss of pets etc. She also facilitates Mental Health Workshops in the workplace teaching strategies that help employees deal with difficult situations. Cheryl is friendly and compassionate, and she truly wants to help people heal from their losses. 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