10 Tips to Deal With Change

We all know that one of the only constants in life is change, but that doesn’t stop it from being challenging, or bringing with it a sense of sadness, depression or anxiety. So many unknowns! So many what-ifs! Know that you’re not alone, and while some people may embrace change more easily than others, we all experience some level of unsettledness in the lead-up to, and while, it’s happening.

Often life’s transitions involve losses, such as a death, a big move, losing a job, or a relationship ending. Even positive transitions, like moving house or starting a new career, can make you feel a little sad. During these times of transitions, don’t push away any grief you might feel… but how can we stop ourselves from completely spiralling and unravelling? While we can’t control the change itself, we can absolutely control how we respond to the change. And that alone is a game-changer in managing our fear and anxiety surrounding these big issues.

We decided to come up with ten tips to help you deal with change:

1. Embrace the feelings of discomfort and acknowledge that change is going to happen regardless of how you feel about it, and that any feelings you have about it, are okay.
2. Understand that there are some things you can control (like your feelings about the situation, and if possible, what you can do at your end to make things go more smoothly) and equally know that some things are out of our control, which is just something we need to accept.
3. Practice self-care. Do more of the things that make you feel good.
4. Stay in the present. Thinking about the past can bring regret or upset and thinking about the future can spark anxiety about the unknown. Training your mind to be in the now is such a powerful tool, and a perfect way to incorporate mindfulness into your life.
5. Establish a daily routine to find comfort in structure. We are creatures of habit and can feel a bit lost when everything we used to know is no longer. Creating new routines can help to bring back some order to your life and provide a huge level of relief.
6. Changing how you think can also really help. Instead of thinking the change is this big scary awful thing, try and look at it like the start of a new chapter, or something that you “get” to experience, not something that you “have” to experience. There are so many lessons and life-learnings in the challenging moments, for these are when we full grow and, ironically, change.
7. Seek social support from friends and family, and consider speaking with a counsellor or other mental health professional if you feel you need extra support during the transition.
8. Keep eating healthily. It can be so comforting to reach for the junk food when everything feels like it’s up in the air, but in actual fact, it probably won’t be providing much comfort at all, and instead adding to your anxiety.
9. Move your body and move it some more! Exercise releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good hormones and are very helpful in reducing stress and sensations of pain, as well as promoting feelings of positivity. Think of this as the most natural and healthiest high possible!
10. Go outside and get into nature. Hear the birdsong, feel the sun on your skin, smell the flowers or freshly cut grass, look around you and enjoy all of Mother Nature’s gifts. Nature is the perfect leader of change as things are moving and changing constantly.

So what next….?

If you need some support with a big or small change happening in your life, give us a call and book in a session. We can offer a whole menu of tips and tools on how to manage this in a healthy way.