Breaking up is tough at any time, but on Valentine's Day it can be more painful. Your feelings are inevitably altered, and your feelings in turn determine your actions. When dealing with the fallout of a breakup, it makes reasonable that concentration on the job may suffer occasionally. Even though you feel like crap on the inside, there are a million and one little things you can do to make sure you stay on top of your work.

To help you focus on what really important at work even when your thoughts are elsewhere, here are nine strategies developed by relationship therapists and top HR professionals.

1. Use work as a distraction.

Naturally, we mean in a positive sense. A healthy diversion to deal with the loss you're feeling is your job, says Lisa Bahar, a therapist from California. However, "focusing on work is not a healthy coping skill if you are avoiding the breakup and your feelings altogether," she cautions. While drowning your troubles in work isn't the answer, giving it your all while you're there will help you forget about your problems. Bahar suggests turning off all electronic devices and logging out of all social media accounts while at work. Instead, you should concentrate on taking part in office activities. Focusing on a single task at a time can help alleviate stress and keep your mind active.  She also recommends not coming in early and leaving late because you need time away from work to focus on your health and wellbeing more than ever.

2. Stay mentally and physically healthy.

Executive coach Nancy Halpern agrees that it's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. "Eat right, sleep, exercise, and reach out to your friends and family," she suggests. They are your most reliable emotional backbone, and they have nothing to do with your professional life. It's important to keep your mental health in check, so if you need to talk about your breakup, ring up the individuals you know you can trust to listen. Now is the time to give yourself the gift of healthy home-cooked meals, regular gym visits and perhaps even a brief morning meditation practise that you've been meaning to get around to.

3. Confide in one or two trusted coworkers.

However, keep this to yourself. According to Halpern, you should only tell one or two people at work that you recently went through a breakup. If you find yourself in need of an ally, it's not necessary to share every last detail with them.She recommends that you "ask them to help by taking you out for short breaks so you can recharge," such as grabbing a cup of coffee or taking a walk around the block. If you're feeling emotional or acting distant, they can act as "spotters."

4. Try batching.

If you're having trouble keeping on task, now might be a good time to experiment with a new method of increasing productivity, such as batching. It's recommended to "batch together tasks that you frequently do so that you can be more effective," says Brittany King, senior recruiter and founder of The Career Collective. "This will keep you on track and in the zone." Finding new methods to structure your day will help you focus on the tasks at hand rather than ruminating about the breakup or becoming overwhelmed by your emotions.

5. Work with other people when possible.

"Interacting with other people rather than doing solo work tucked away in a back office is a good way to distract yourself," says California-based psychotherapist Gretchen Kubacky. Now is the time to participate in that department meeting you've been putting off or to take advantage of that opportunity to engage on a group project. The more you interact with other people, the less time you have to worry about your own problems.

6. Don’t go overboard.

While it's wise to focus on something you can give your full attention to, jumping into the biggest project you can find right after a breakup isn't a good choice. As Halpern puts it, this will only lead to feelings of despair and despair. It's crucial to keep your pride intact while you're feeling vulnerable, so focus your efforts where you have a good chance of succeeding.

7. Make new habits.

You're undoubtedly forming new routines and habits in your personal life, and you should do the same in your professional life. If you have a pattern of texting your ex throughout the day, King advises replacing it with something else, like going for a walk, hydrating, or texting a friend. The routine change will become automatic in no time.

8. Make plans after work.

You may bring your personal feelings of isolation to work if you spend a lot of time alone there. Halpern recommends filling your schedule with a variety of activities, such as going to the movies with friends, having dinner with family, and enrolling in a new course at a local college. "Plan ahead so that you have something to look forward to three or four nights a week."

9. Use a to-do list.

An easy strategy, but one that works. King advises his subjects to "make a list of what you need to accomplish for the following day" at the close of each working day. "This will guide you through the day and help you stay laser focused when your mind is tempted to wander," she says. There will be less time for brooding after a breakup if you don't have to waste wondering what you should be doing next.