Struggling to keep up with the life transitions you’re facing? These carefully curated tips will help you navigate transitions in every stage of your life!
Transitions are a part of life. Even still, they have proven to be obstacles that shape us for a new phase of life. Reading other people’s experiences and tips can be extremely beneficial, and as someone who has gone through many life transitions in the last couple of years, I am giving you tips to help you navigate life transitions like a pro.
You are going to learn about how to navigate life transitions with different techniques and steps, such as acknowledging the change, pinpointing new responsibilities, and creating a new routine.
After reading about these techniques, you will hopefully feel confident in handling your next life transition.
This post is all about practical tips to help you navigate life transitions.
Practical Tips to Help You Navigate Life Transitions
My Story
In the fall of 2021, I was a new wife, a full-time grad student, a full-time employee, and a part-time marketing volunteer for a local non-profit. Needless to say… it was A LOT! I was always producing, always working. I had very little free time, and was always thinking of what I had to do next. Working toward what needed to get done was a very straightforward process for me, because I had clear goals of what I needed to accomplish. In the timeframe of a year and a half, there was a graduation, a resignation letter, and a move. I was no longer a student, no longer an employee, and was living in a new part of New England.
Everything was different; I was no longer the busy person I had learned to cater to. Staying home was something I was thankful for, but the amount of leisure my days had was new and confusing to me. I quickly lost my purpose my use for my beloved planner. My whole routine was different, and I was no longer in the phase of life I had been in for years. My role in life was transitioning, and with that, I faced a lot of challenges. How was I supposed to re-adjust to this completely new and different time of my life?
1. Acknowledge The Change
For a while, it was easier to ignore it. Easier to pretend like I was still a busy college student. Reality quickly made itself present, and I learned that acknowledging the shift was the first step to making this transition manageable. Being able to identify and admit to the transition was a turning point in navigating this obstacle. When you’re able to acknowledge the change, you are able to realize that your life is now demanding different parts of you to develop. Get out a piece of paper, and write down the changes you are currently facing in this transitional period. Being able to visually see them will help to better understand them. Facing the chances is the first step to becoming more confident in your new role. The faster you are able to do it, the faster you will be able to shift your mindset.
2. Pinpoint New Responsibilities
These new changes are going to require new responsibilities of you. You may have to shift your focus, and take part in different actions. If you never pinpoint your new responsibilities, you’ll never be able to fulfill them. This was a hard lesson I learned when I became a young homemaker. My main responsibilities used to include completing homework assignments, being present in class and at work, and volunteering.
Now, my main responsibilities include cooking dinner, grocery shopping, identifying the needs of my hard-working husband, cleaning, laundry, and other household-based tasks. My priority was now being a hardworking homemaker and supportive wife. The shift in my main responsibilities were drastic, but recognizing my change of focus was pivotal in transitioning smoothly. Writing down new responsibilities helps to train your brain away from your old ones, and helps you realize and embrace your new ones.
3. Create A New Routine
Going from having a very rigid routine to having no routine at all was an extremely difficult experience for me. Since Pre-K, I had some sort of a routine that was created for me. But in this new phase of my life, I was 100% in control of my day, and did not have any obligations. To some, this may sound like a great thing! But day after day of not having a routine, I was completely unmotivated, and knew I needed to create some structure to my days.
Starting small is the best way to do this. Creating a base and then building up will allow you to get used to this new routine, and will give you time to adjust. Being able to take the first step of creating a new routine will help you become more comfortable with this transition. As you continue making small changes to your routine, the larger picture will become more clear to you. Work your new responsibilities into this routine from the very beginning so they naturally become a part of your day.
4. Alter Your Routine Until It Works For You
When I first made a routine, I did not put too much pressure on making it perfect right away. I knew it would take time, and knew I had the ability to change anything about it to better fit my new life. I started with basic routine changes, such as getting ready at a specific time, eating at certain times, and making dinner at the same time every night. This brought back some of the comfortability of a routine for me, and made me realize I can still have a productive routine as a homemaker.
I have been staying home for almost two years now, and I am STILL altering my routine. Things in life have changed since I first started staying home (we have moved twice), and being able to alter and reinvent my routine has been something that normalizes my day to day. Knowing I have the power to change anything in my routine is reassuring, and allows me to create a routine that best utilizes my day. Creating a baseline routine that can carry you through day to day changes will provide you with a routine that you can not only turn to, but alter in order to maximize your time!
5. Give Yourself Grace
Creating a rock solid routine will not happen overnight. I have been creating and changing my routine as a homemaker since the Spring of 2022, and it is still changing as more life transitions come my way. Because I have a baseline routine, I am able to stem off of it, and shift different tasks around to better fit these life transitions. I no longer feel like I am building a routine from scratch. It is important to note that as an adult, your routine will probably never be set in stone, or permanent. Being able to acknowledge these routine shifts and life transitions and approach them with confidence is the end goal.
No one routine will be perfect, and you must learn how to ebb and flow with the different phases in your life. Putting forth effort and being patient with yourself is the key to successfully navigating these times in your life. Giving yourself grace on an off day or during a routine change will allow you to grow with less pressure, and will result in a more productive and happy version of yourself!
This post was all about practical tips to help you navigate life transitions.