I spent the last month in a transition phase. I am not talking about a simple change in route to work, but a full, life-changing transition. Uprooting myself and all of my routines to start something completely new and different. Transition comes in many forms, from a new job within the same company to moving cross country to start a new career. While a lot of change is for the better, and I have gone through transitions before, it is still a challenging process. I thought it would be helpful to share some insights as most, if not all of you, will go through a transition at some point in your lives.
First, let’s face it, transitions are tough, don’t let anyone fool you into thinking it’s going to be easy. In thinking about this, I realized that the reason transition and change is hard is because it takes you to a place or routine that is not familiar and that makes you uncomfortable. This may seem like a simple rationale that you could come up with on your own, but owning up to this uncomfortable feeling is the first step to getting through it. Let me clear, there is no way around it. My goal is to share with you some things that helped me get through it.
The key is to take things one step at a time and find a few things that are familiar to you that will bring you comfort during the transition. People are told to de-personalize a home when they are trying to sell it. The hope is that by removing personal items, potential buyers can better envision themselves, and their personal items, within a space. The same works in reverse. If you are in a new place, (home, company, or even just moving to a different office within the same building), personalizing your space will bring you more comfort that you would expect.
When I moved, I packed my car with a few personal items and left the rest for the movers. As I entered this new place where I didn’t even know how to find the grocery store, let alone have a bed to sleep on, there were a few things that really helped me when things got tough.
1. Photos of family and friends. While the placement and surroundings of a photo might be different, the faces in the pictures are still the same. Having those familiar faces to look at when I thought I would never be able to make this place like home were invaluable.
2. My favorite coffee mug. Seems silly, but before the movers came, having my own coffee mug to drink coffee out of each morning started off the day in a familiar manner.
3. Sound. Never underestimate the power of music. Familiar songs generally bring back memories and those can be comforting as well. Plus, some upbeat music can help you attack a new set of tasks with a bit more enthusiasm.
Finally, remember to take things one step at a time. You are never going to be expected to figure everything out all at once. Ramping up in a new job, or unpacking and putting things away takes time. Take it one task and one box at a time. You’ll be out from under the cardboard in no time.
