There’s a strong chance that you have experienced a great deal of transition throughout your life. For many of us, it can feel like transitioning between things is even more difficult than the things themselves. Shifting gears within the workday is tricky and phase-of-life change can feel challenging.

Whenever possible, it can be important to carve out a space for us to process our emotions related to the changes around us. It’s easy to underestimate this need and to remain convinced that giving ourselves transition time will make us less productive or that we shouldn’t be affected by change. However, avoiding this need completely can make life more difficult for us in the long run.

A solid transition in our workday is something that helps get us ready for the next thing. As we’re leaving work and transitioning home, it can be essential to check in with our emotions and notice what’s present in order to start processing them. Whenever possible, it might be best for us to avoid rushing home immediately after work, as we may be in a state of heightened stress. Having some time to buffer can help us be more present at our next destination.

If we’re thinking about a life-stage change, it can be impossible to fully prepare ahead of time. This can feel disempowering, but we can still affect our outcome in adapting to change. Some of those same practices mentioned above are still helpful, but the process takes longer. Creating something new or transforming something old is something that can help integrate our past and present experiences. We also may need to enlist some outside support in handling the changes around us.

If you’d like a prompt to help you with transitions in your daily life, Pause and Reset exercises are a great option to consider. If you feel like you need the help of a professional, whether a therapist or a life coach, the Ohio State University Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to assist you in getting connected. To start this process, please call 800-678-6265 or click here.