Embracing Change: 8 Ways to Make it Easier

Change is a scary word. Even in cases where we know change is going to bring new and exciting opportunities and adventures, stepping outside of our comfort zone and walking down that new path is never easy. However, having trust in ourselves and taking time for self-care during times of change can make for a smoother transition. Try these tips during times of change to make navigation of the unknown a little easier.

• Eat Well: now is the best time to do some re-vamping of your diet if it needs it! Reach for more fruits + veggies and cut back on the refined, sugary stuff. Supporting your body with the nutrients it needs for energy production and metabolism will also help provide you with a clearer mind to begin to establish a new routine while you adapt to these changes.
• Sleep Enough: getting 7-10 hours of sleep per night isn’t always easy but it’s oh-so-necessary, especially in times of stress (like with change!). Our body takes the opportunity while we are sleeping to repair cells that may have become damaged by oxidative stress throughout the day and to clear toxins from the brain. If you need help unwinding and getting into a deep sleep, talk to your practitioner about herbs and supplements that promote a restful state. Alternatively, you could consider trying to get ahold of some recreational marijuana to see if that helps you to get to sleep. Some people have found that method to be beneficial before now.
• Move Often: get your blood flowing to help support not only physical health but mental as well. With increased blood flow comes new ideas and motivation that may not have been accessible otherwise! Plus, exercise is a great way to help manage that extra stress that tends to accompany change.
• Meditate More: reassuring yourself that change is good is something that should be done often. When we repeat a thought enough, it becomes a truth, one that plays out in our lives in various ways. Create a mantra that resonates with you and promotes confidence in yourself and your decisions. Repeat it multiple times throughout the day, beginning with when you first wake up in the morning and let it be the last thing on your mind as you’re falling into a restful sleep.
• Take Baby Steps: sometimes change occurs overnight and isn’t something we’ve worked towards or are the pilot of but more-so we’re just along for the ride (and sometimes barely hanging on!). Taking small steps towards acceptance of this change makes it easier to deal with. Start with focusing on one positive aspect of the change, the effect this has on your life currently, and what impact it can have on your future. If there are any negative aspects of this change, try to find one positive within that negative. For instance, if your change was getting let go from your job, find the positive by asking yourself if that was truly the right job for you- were you fulfilled or were you working for the weekend? How can you prepare for a career change? The most important thing is to upskill yourself and create a solid resume (perhaps with the assistance of ARC Resumes or similar companies). In other words, asking these questions and finding answers for them can lead you towards a career where you’ll flourish and one that will end up bringing you more joy than your last job- a long-term positive result of a negative change!
• Celebrate the Failures: while this may sound silly, celebrating failure alongside your successes is important in personal growth. We often associate failing with feelings of embarrassment and inadequacy. Celebrating the failures creates space to reframe them as a learning opportunity that will make you a wiser version of your current self!
• Recognize your Strengths: as we move forward on the path of change, self-doubt often pipes up to put negative thoughts in our heads. Focus on what you’re good at and recognize your abilities and how they will help you move through this change and achieve your goals. Similar to how you’re repeating your mantra, repeating your strengths re-inforces positive thoughts, which turn into reality.
• Find Comfort in the Uncomfortable: uncomfortable? GREAT! Convince yourself that this is exactly where you want to be. Think of this discomfort as a way to help you mentally grow stronger every day, just as working out helps us become physically stronger (and can be equally as uncomfortable!). In order for change to occur, we must first be uncomfortable. Embracing this fact of life will bring you through to the other side sooner rather than later. Not sure how to find comfort in the uncomfortable? Try breathing exercises paired with positive self talk, such as “yes, I’m uncomfortable, but that’s ok. It’s going to benefit me in the long run”.

Throughout life, change is inevitable. Enact these tips as often as you can and make the process less intimidating- remember, change is a sign of growth, and you’re more than capable of becoming the best version of yourself!