At some point in our lives, we will all experience loss. Whether it is the death of a loved one, the ending of a relationship, or something else entirely, grief is a natural and normal reaction to loss. And, while it is totally understandable to need some time to grieve, for many of us, life goes on. This can be especially true for entrepreneurs and home business owners who don’t have the luxury of taking extended time off. So, how do you deal with grief while still keeping your business running?

Plan Ahead as Much as Possible

One of the best things you can do is to plan ahead as much as possible. If you know that a loved one is ill and their death is imminent, start thinking about what needs to be done to keep your business running in the event that you need to take some time off. This might include preparing blog posts or social media content in advance, scheduling client appointments around your anticipated grieving period, or delegating tasks to employees or contractors. Essentially, you want to make things as easy as possible for yourself so that you can take the time you need without worrying about whether or not your business will suffer as a result.

Create (or Update) an Emergency Plan

In addition to preparing content and delegating tasks in advance, it’s also a good idea to have an emergency plan in place for times when grief strikes unexpectedly. This could include having a list of people who can step in and take over key responsibilities if necessary, setting up automation for certain tasks (such as billing clients), or anything else that will help make running your business easier during tough times.

Take Things One Day at a Time

Finally, remember that it’s okay to take things one day at a time—grief can be unpredictable and you may not always be operating at 100%. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, give yourself permission to scale back or take a break entirely until you’re ready to jump back in again. Don’t beat yourself up for not being able to do everything; just focus on doing what you can and trust that the rest will fall into place eventually.

Dealing with grief is never easy—but it’s especially tough when you’re also trying to run a business at the same time. By planning ahead as much as possible, creating (or updating) an emergency plan, and taking things one day at a time, you can get through this difficult period without compromising your business’ success.