Using Major Life Transitions to Grow and Change
Going through a major life transition, such as a divorce, move, or other significant change, presents more than challenges. These transitions can be seen as clean slates and new opportunities to help you grow personally, changing your life for the better.
Replace a Bad Habit With a Good One
When you undergo a major life change, you have a chance to replace the old with something new. But, often, bad habits can be tough to break. And replacing bad habits with good ones doesn’t happen overnight. However, the process takes less time than you may think! Averaging roughly two months, the process is short when you consider how profoundly these changes can impact your life.
Some examples of swapping good behaviors for bad ones include:
Chewing a piece of gum instead of smoking a cigarette
Writing in a journal instead of overeating
Watching a movie at home or going for a walk with a friend instead of shopping and overspending
Learn to Identify the Triggers
Stress can influence neural pathways associated with rewards, so it’s no wonder it can trigger bad habits. Although many people don’t immediately recognize the signs of stress, pinpointing your triggers can help you make practical changes to lower stress over time. Some of the most common triggers include:
Illness
Family problems
Lack of time or money
Job issues
Make a Career Change: Pursue Self-Employment
If you're experiencing a lot of stress around your job, making a change to something new might be just what you need. Switching from being an employee to being your own boss can come with a number of surprising benefits. Not only do you get flexible work hours, you can stop commuting and do something you love. If all those weren’t enough, research shows that working for yourself can be rewarding: A survey of approximately 4,000 self-employed workers found that 70% had achieved a work-life balance!
If you’re thinking of making the switch, many online resources can help you with the transition. A good place to start is the U.S. Department of Labor, which offers a wide variety of self-employment resources to supply you with the information and support you need. Remember that you'll need to register your business through https://www.zenbusiness.com/florida-llc/ to save on lawyer fees and get it done right.
Start a New Hobby
Hobbies are much more than ways to fill your time. They can bring you a sense of joy and purpose, connect you with other like-minded individuals, and help you develop new skills.
Popular hobbies include:
Growing fruits, vegetables, and other plants
Cooking and baking
Reading
Playing an instrument
Getting a pet
Focus on Health and Wellness
There’s no better time to take stock of your current health and put new goals into place than during a major transition. Choices, which are many, include yoga, cycling, and tennis. Joining Fit Full Force Fitness Studio can connect you with others on the same journey, which can boost your motivation and focus. Start by taking a look at available sessions here.
See Transition as Opportunity
With every major life transition comes opportunity: a chance to start fresh, begin something new, and replace old habits with new ones. By seeing this time as a renewal, you give yourself permission to grow, more deeply embodying who you’re meant to be and how you want to show up in the world.
Image via Pexels