If you’ve been thinking about making a change in your life, this might be the time to start thinking about what that change might be. Significant life transitions, such as moving, obtaining a new job, graduating, or getting married can be exciting. But they also require a lot of planning and can have a big impact on your life and stress levels overall. If you’re planning to make a significant life change soon, you may benefit from a structured approach to this transition.
What is a life transition?
A life transition is a significant event that can interrupt your normal life structure. These events can be planned or unplanned, expected or unexpected. Life transitions can include anything from moving to a house down the street, to starting over in a new city. While it may provide new opportunities for you, a life transition can also be stressful and require you to make adjustments to the way you live.
Adjusting takes time
Making a significant life change can be scary because changing some aspect of your life can be extremely difficult. Before making a life transition, know that adjusting to your new circumstances can take time. That amount of time looks different based on whatever transition you’re making. It can take days or weeks to settle into a new job, or weeks or months to settle into a new home or city. When you’re making a life transition, remind yourself to stay patient and to adjust naturally by coping with your new circumstances in ways that work for you
Support is important
Even the smallest of life changes become easier when we have someone around us to lean on. It could be someone to help with moving or someone to hang out with on our hard days. Maybe it’s just someone to talk to during the transitional period about the changes we’re making. This kind of support can help us feel encouraged and motivated in taking the next steps towards our new lifestyle. Whether it’s friends, co-workers, family, or professional support, having someone on your team is essential for connection and growth.
Find ways to get settled
New surroundings and circumstances are difficult. So, think about the ways you can help ease yourself into your new environment. What makes you feel comfortable, safe, and stable? Take time to think about the things that will make you feel more at peace with your new environment. It can be something as small as finding a coffee shop near your new school or office, or as big as making new friends. Other strategies include investing in comfort items and getting connected with resources in your new environment.
Understand the change you’ve made
When we make life transitions, we often focus solely on the new opportunities. But there can be grief related to moving on from old circumstances, even if they were no longer serving us. Recognize that change is difficult, especially when we were already established in a certain place or organization. It’s okay to simultaneously feel sad about the things you’ve left behind and feel excited about the new opportunities you’ve taken part in.
About Therapist Samantha Nolan, MA, LPC, ATR- Barnum Counseling
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