Transitions can be difficult. We might feel stuck, impatient and frustrated. We might feel like we are not moving forward. Read the full post on how to deal with periods of transition.

Change can be difficult. Change can also be exhilarating and liberating. But what about the transition period – that tricky time between when you decide to make a change (or have change thrust upon you) and when your new plan comes together. Today’s post is about how to deal with transitions.

Transitions can make you feel like you’re in limbo. They can make you feel like your life is on hold.

Transitions can sometimes feel like we are stuck, though that may not actually be the case.

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Here are my thoughts on how to deal with periods of transition.

Be patient

I know you didn’t want to hear that. I’m not always a big fan of the be patient mantra myself.

However, the advice still stands.

Regardless of your frustration levels (and you are bound to have some, so you need to devise a healthy way to deal with those feelings), sometimes the only thing you can do is be patient and ride it out.

Do the work

Naturally, if there is work or a task that needs to be done to help the transition along, by all means, you should be doing the work.

The patience I mention above isn’t about sitting around doing nothing, simply hoping good things randomly come your way.

You are responsible for making good things happen.

Your transition may also involve work of the soul-searching variety.

Let go

Often transitions involve an element of letting go. Moving forward means leaving certain attachments behind so you can grow and evolve.

It means not living in the past and holding onto old feelings of hurt and bitterness.

If you move through a transition yet carry all of your old baggage into the next phase of your life, you are bound to face the same demons further down the track.

Letting go isn’t easy. Don’t be hard on yourself if you find it hard.

Do your best to let go of whatever’s holding you back.

Related posts on letting go–

Move forward in other areas

Often, it can be tempting to just put everything on hold until your new state of play comes into being.

Transitions can tend to be all-consuming, and our other plans end up on the back burner. We neglect people and other issues (not to mention ourselves)!

I think on some level, this is often normal when a project takes a lot of our time and energy, just don’t let your life get too one-dimensional.

Try to maintain an element of balance in your life.

Books on Amazon that can help you deal with transitions – 

Control your stress levels

Transitions can be particularly stressful; naturally, some more than others, depending on your situation.

Times of transition might require us to be a bit more inventive about how we deal with stress. Your normal forms of stress relief might not cut it during a particularly difficult time of transition.

You may need more relaxation or time out than usual, or you may need to find other ways to feel calm and relaxed. Try out different methods to see what works for you.

It’s important to point out that controlling your stress levels doesn’t mean always being in control. It doesn’t mean putting on a brave face and pretending you are fine or bottling up your feelings when you are struggling.

It means being open and honest about the emotions you are experiencing.

Don’t forget to enjoy the moment

Waiting can often mean we don’t fully appreciate the here and now.

Being in a transitional period often means projecting forward, working towards something we want in the future. You will know you are in a transitional period when you find yourself using the word when a lot,

  • When I get a new job,
  • when the house is finished,
  • when the divorce is finalized,
  • when I recover from the operation.

The problem with all of this forward-thinking is that we fail to enjoy or completely miss moments in the present. All of that projecting forward has us overlooking the joy of now.

Related post – The One Thing You Can Do Right Now to Feel Happier and Less Stressed

There is no doubt that transitions can be difficult. Waiting can be unpleasant. Most of the time, we are impatient to get on with things.

When you find yourself in a transitional period, hang in there, be kind to yourself and those around you, and hopefully you’ll be moving onto your next exciting adventure before you know it.

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Read Next – 10 Important Ways to Make Yourself a Priority