The Definitive Guide to Running Your Business from a Hospital Room While Someone You Love is Dying

I’m writing this from a hospital room while my dad is dying. It sucks. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years—after spending 50+ days in this situation when I lost my mom five years ago and after being on a breathing machine for 17 days three years ago when I got Covid, and now several weeks with my dad in and out of hospitals for months—it’s that life doesn’t pause, and neither does business.

Some people use work as a distraction from life. Sometimes, life is the distraction from work. And sometimes, like right now, the two overlap in a very weird, emotional, and deeply exhausting Venn diagram.

Not everyone can just shut down or take a leave. Clients are counting on you. Co-workers need you. And frankly, doing the work can be a lifeline. But—and this is a big BUT—you don’t get to use this situation as an excuse. People have paid you. People are counting on you. The work still has to get done.

So, for those who find themselves in this unfortunate club, here’s a definitive (and hopefully refreshing) guide to running a business from a hospital room.

1. Be Honest with People

Your Zoom background may be a beige hospital curtain, but the real backdrop is chaos. Be upfront. Let people know you might have to mute suddenly, cut a meeting short, or disappear if a doctor walks in. Most people will understand. The ones who don’t? Well, they’re probably the reason you’re stressed to begin with.

2. Delegate Like a Boss (or Like Someone Who Has No Choice)

You’re going to be pulled in multiple directions, so offload what you can. Trust your team. Give them power. And if you don’t have a team, consider this a crash course in “asking for help without feeling guilty” (a skill I am personally still terrible at).

3. Find Quiet Places to Talk

A hospital room is not a soundproof podcast studio. There are machines beeping, nurses walking in, doctors screaming "CBC, Chem 7, coag panel and lites" and intercoms announcing “code something” that sounds vaguely terrifying. Scout out hallways, waiting rooms, or even stairwells. Bonus tip: A good parking garage spot can be a CEO’s best-kept secret.

4. Bring Chargers and a Power Brick (Maybe Two)

Hospitals are where people and phones go to die. Between non-stop calls, texts, and Google searches like “Is it normal for a hospital cafeteria to sell sushi?”, your battery will disappear fast. Always carry a charger, and a power brick, and never assume you’ll find an outlet.

5. Be Organized (or Fake It Really Well)

You might be sleep-deprived and emotionally wrecked, but your business obligations don’t care. Keep notes. Set reminders. Use a to-do list that actually works for you. If you’ve ever needed a reason to embrace automation, this is it.

6. JUST DO THE WORK.

This is the most important one. No one (outside of your closest people) truly cares about what you’re going through. Not because they’re heartless, but because they have their own pressures and deadlines. If someone has paid you or is counting on you, you owe them the work. Get it done, no excuses.

7. Is Your Work Compromised?

No. Because art comes from pain, and I’m an artist. (Try saying this with confidence. It helps.)

8. Block Out an Hour Each Day—But Not for Work

This isn’t about cramming in another meeting—it’s about spending time with your loved one. Sit with them. Tell them you love them. Ask to hear a story. Hold their hand. Be present. Work will always be there; they won’t. Make the time. No regrets.

9. You Will Be Working Late Into the Night. Accept It.

There’s no way around it. The work has to get done, and the only free time you’ll probably get is when the hospital finally quiets down at 11 PM. So, get comfortable with the reality that your new office hours are "whenever there’s a moment." It’s not fun, but this is the deal. Sleep will be a luxury, coffee will be your best friend, and deadlines don’t care about your exhaustion.

10. Take Care of Yourself (Yes, Really)

Eat. Rest. Walk around. Drink water. Take a break. The whole “put your oxygen mask on first” thing isn’t just for airplanes—it applies here too. If you burn out, everything collapses.

11. Be Kind to the Nurses

They are angels on earth. Full stop. Learn their names. Say thank you. They are the ones keeping your loved one alive while you answer emails.

This guide isn’t meant to be inspirational. It’s meant to be practical. Loving someone doesn’t mean you can always put your life on hold. But working through a crisis doesn’t mean you love them any less.

If you’re in this situation right now, I see you. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. It’s unfair. But you’ll get through it—one meeting, one email, one deeply questionable hospital cafeteria coffee at a time.

And if you have tips of your own, drop them below. I’m still figuring this out as I go.

#Business #Entrepreneurship #WorkAndLife