Transitioning between jobs, relationships, houses, or hobbies can be a serious cause of stress. You’re all shook up during a period of change and it's easy to feel lost when things are no longer as they were.
There’s no “right” way to navigate major life events like having a baby or losing a loved one. However, prioritising mindfulness and self-compassion is a great way to ensure that you stay mentally resilient and negotiate challenges with grace.
Landing a new role is often a big boost to your income and job satisfaction. You probably have more responsibilities now and may have moved up in pay grade. However, not all working environments are set up to support your mental health.
Workplaces with poor mental health support can negatively affect your productivity and self-image. Work-related depression may also interfere with your ability to work effectively and reduce your cognitive performance by up to 35%. This can lead to self-doubt and a lack of confidence.
You can overcome poor mental health while transitioning to a new job by recording your thoughts and tracking your progress. You’d be surprised by how much you learn and achieve during a transition to a new job. If you’ve moved into a managerial position, consider advocating for further mental health support in your workplace, as others will also benefit from greater support.
If the new job simply isn’t working, it is ok to practice self-compassion and leave. Leaving a job that doesn’t suit you isn’t a failure — it may even be the catalyst for future success. You shouldn’t feel like you have to justify your decision to leave a new role, either. Your happiness is on the line and putting yourself first in a professional context is always the right decision.
When relocating, it’s easy to overlook the stress and strain the moving process causes. Moving into a new house is usually a good thing for your long-term happiness, but packing up and moving on can be a strange feeling that brings a sense of loss and uncertainty.
You can make the moving process easier by focusing on mindfulness whenever possible. Moving is a busy time, so take 10 minutes every day to breathe, write in a gratitude journal, and take note of the feelings that you have about the move.
You can also use breaks between packing and planning to create a moving checklist. A moving checklist gives you a sense of control and ensures that you aren’t missing anything that you may need when you arrive at your new home. Pay particular attention to items and objects that you need for self-care routines like hygiene products, journals, or yoga mats.
The people closest to you play a major role in how you think and feel about yourself. So, when a new relationship forms or an old relationship ends, it's only natural to experience some amount of anxiety.
Relationship anxiety is completely normal. You may notice that your sense of self starts to shift when you’re moving into a new relationship or are attempting to move on. You can navigate this change with grace and self-compassion by recording your feelings and noting down the way you feel about yourself in the new stage of your relationship.
If you find yourself struggling to enter a new phase of a relationship, it may be worth visiting a therapist. Therapists are trained to understand the strain that interpersonal relationships may cause you and can help you understand your feelings. Over time, working with a therapist will give you strategies for self-compassion that reduce and alleviate relationship-based anxiety.
Navigating stressful times in your life is never easy. During these periods of transition, focus some of your attention on self-compassion and mindfulness. Even a short journal session can make a big difference to your mentality during a stressful move or change of jobs. If you need extra help, practice self-care by seeking help and getting in touch with a licensed therapist.
This article was kindly written and contributed by Katie Brenneman.