How can you ensure that the existential crisis you're going through won't affect your performance at work?

While it can be a wonderful thought to imagine the opportunity to "duck out" of your life during stressful periods, the reality is that most of us don't have the luxury of taking a 'mental holiday' when we are struggling with serious life issues such as an existential crisis.  What to do, when you need to pull yourself together in those moments where you feel it utterly impossible?

"Act As If."  Confused?  You won't be in a moment.  "Acting as if," is the suped-up, psychological version of "Fake it 'til you make it."  It's all about playing a role, so that your mind can focus on the task at hand, instead of your thoughts wreaking emotional havoc on you due to your existential crisis.  How to get started?

Decide what type of show you want to put on at work and pick someone's behaviors to model and "perform."  If you are feeling sluggish or uninspired, think about someone you know in either your personal or professional life that exudes creativity and vitality.  Study their behaviors, eye contact, body language and posturing, tone of voice etc.  Give your character a name and then perform it with everything you've got. 

Be warned - this will make you feel awkward and inorganic at the start, but the more you practice, you will gain ease and mastery over this new coping skill.  Remember that we all have different roles and different proverbial hats that we wear in our lives. The role of husband, wife, friend, mother, father and co-worker. On your way to work, imagine how you are going to 'put on your work hat' and perform the role of your new character. 

At minimum, your existential crisis will be given the day off and it can provide you the energy needed to conquer it over time.