Life transitions like marriage, divorce, losing a job, or moving to a new city invariably bring vast, sweeping changes. You’re pushed out of your comfort zone and forced to do things differently. Now, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing: We all have bad habits that don’t serve us, and the huge changes that are happening are essentially wiping your slate clean. You could ride this transition wave toward a new way of being, where you do things better than you used to and build a better life for yourself. Today, Breathe explains how you could replace negative habits with positive ones during major life transitions:
Understand that making positive change is a process Bad habits don’t disappear overnight. They’re a pattern ingrained into your psyche and cemented by repetition and practice. You’ll have to transform them – essentially, replace the old pattern with a new one. Time advocates a 5-step process: stress-busting, understanding your triggers, finding replacement habits, having good motivation, and setting new goals. Replace your old attitude Your mindset shapes your beliefs and guides your actions. Negative attitudes like being judgmental, impatient, arrogant, and stubborn will keep you stuck in negative patterns of behavior and being. You could work on replacing them with positive, opposing attitudes – being more accepting, patient, humble, and flexible, for instance. Get gardening to bust stress and bolster your mental health Gardening is one of the most healthful activities in existence and has long been associated with longevity. Spending a few minutes gardening every day can drastically reduce your stress levels, naturally bolster your mood, help you get your daily dose of Vitamin D, and be good physical exercise besides. For added health benefits (and saving grocery bills), you can grow your own fruits and vegetables for consumption. You can even connect with passionate fellow gardeners or find a gardening club in your neighborhood. Change up your non-satisfying relationships The people you spend time with have a massive influence on your attitudes, happiness levels, and life in general. If you find yourself in toxic relationships with people who don’t support you or don’t have your best interest at heart, it’s time to change things up. Consider setting stronger boundaries, spending more time with yourself, and, of course, finding new people. Replace your old unhealthy food choices Sugary sodas, snacks, and junk food bring down your energy levels, affect your mood, and even lead to health problems like diabetes and heart issues. Healthier food, needless to say, will give you more energy, keep health problems at bay, and make you happier. There are healthier alternatives for almost any food item you can think of, and they taste the same. FirstCry Parenting offers a nice list. If you garden actively, you can plant your own healthy vegetables – beets, carrots, kale, green beans, and more. Transform your unhealthy lifestyle An unhealthy lifestyle is living life without taking care of yourself. It may involve not exercising enough, not hydrating enough, sitting still for too long, drinking too much alcohol, and watching too much TV (or having too much screen time). Creating and following a simple self-care routine will allow you to take better care of yourself. Gardening, as mentioned earlier, is one of the best self-care activities and fun besides. Change jobs Nobody likes the stress that goes with putting yourself back on the job market, but if you aren’t happy with your current position, it’s probably time to look elsewhere. Luckily, there are tools you can use to give yourself an advantage over the competition. For instance, you may want to try a resume builder that takes advantage of time-tested templates to highlight your hard-won skills. And best of all, it’s free! Of course, another option is to become your own boss. It’s a great way to transition into something more positive and satisfying. All you need is a solid business plan, a good attitude, and some seed money. You can limit the risk to your personal assets by registering as an LLC, which offers certain legal protections and tax benefits. But regulations can vary by location so make sure you’re adhering to the specific LLC rules for your state – or better yet, get an online formation service to help you get started! Conclusion Major life transitions may be turbulent, but they teach valuable lessons and are a golden opportunity to make positive changes in your life, whether that’s updating your resume and changing jobs or starting a business of your own. Remember, it helps to be kind to yourself and remind yourself that any chaos (or pain) is fleeting – that this, too, shall pass, and better days will come. Article courtesy of Michelle Peterson Photo by Ignacio Correia 🟢 on Unsplash
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorsAlanna is the Owner and Clinical Director of Breathe., LLC. Alanna is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Registered Yoga Instructor, and Certified Heartmath Trainer. Alanna has over 20 years of experience working in the addictions field. Alanna takes a holistic approach when working with clients, combining the mind, body, and spirit in counseling. Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|