What is a transition and why are we talking about this today!!!
Because…… transitions are a constant in life. Transitioning in and out of roles, in and out of different workplaces, in and out phases of life, in and out of years, into a different house, state, country, relationships, the list goes on and on.
Change and transitions will always pop up in our lives and it is how we navigate them that determines our wellbeing during the process and success beyond the time of change or transition.
It is often a time of moving from one thing/place/situation to another. It can be positive or negative depending on many different variables.
What are the tools that we need to navigate transitions and therefore change? Do they need to be reviewed. Often what worked before may not work this time, sometimes it does. What support do we need when navigating change and transitions.
What we know is that it is often stressful even when positive so knowing how you manage stress is important and if it is not well, there is no time like the present to get some awareness about this. Talk to someone you know and trust and pick their brains about how they have observed how you manage stress and then consider what you think about this. Review stress management techniques.
Another big aspect of transitioning! Accepting change…. This is a big one. We all have difficulty accepting change. Accepting ‘what is’ rather than ‘what used to be’ and ‘what it should be’.
Strategies for navigating life transitions
- Acknowledge the change:
Accept that a new chapter is beginning and acknowledge what you are leaving behind. Think about what no longer serves you moving forward. Think about the strengths that can help you navigate the transition or change. Think about what might also be missing in terms of support, strengths, skills.
- Maintain routine:
Keep as many daily routines consistent as possible to provide a sense of stability. Some changes make this difficult and acknowledging this is important to allow the time and space for things to be different. But the little routine things make the difference such as nutrition, exercise etc.
- Practice self-care:
Focus on getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and engaging in activities you enjoy.
- Build resilience:
Reframe uncertainty as opportunity and be kind to yourself during the process, drawing on your strengths and getting support where needed.
- Take one step at a time:
Break down overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable steps to regain a sense of control.
- Seek support:
Lean on your support system of family and friends or consider talking to a professional counsellor or therapist for guidance.
- Time
Allowing the passing of time will allow for perspective, growth, reflection. Easier said than done, but it is a reality.
- Acceptance
Accepting what is. It is easy to run a narrative through your head about what ‘it should be ‘how it should be’ but really sitting with what and how it is in the moment makes it easy to recognise the emotions present and let them pass. It also allows you to be able to take one step at a time through the changes presenting.
- Control what you can
This funnily enough does not mean control everything. It means only control what you can which is usually yourself in regard to your thoughts, your actions and reactions, how you show up, the impact and/or influence that you can have.
Regardless of the magnitude of the transition ahead, know that with some effort it can be navigated, and while some of the strategies seem so simple actually spending the time to think about and put in place some of the above can help through the transitions.
