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Transition and change are very tricky times for everyone. A good transition can mean the difference between floundering and flourishing. As such it is crucial to get it right. Transition can put enormous strain on you socially, emotionally, academically and even practically. Whether you are progressing from high school to university or university into the workplace or another setting altogether, the transition does not have to be an anxiety-inducing period in our lives or make us run away.

To be frank, even the prospect of change can be terrifying but it doesn’t have to be. So, what can we do to make the transition work and set your student life or career off to a good start?

Acceptance – things will change

The most detrimental thing you can do for yourself when it comes to change is to deny its occurrence. The sooner you accept it, the better. If you’re a student going to university, things will be very different. Perhaps you will be moving to another province, leaving your family and comfort zone behind. You will probably live alone or be responsible for yourself, which is something you’ve probably never had to do. You must do your best to accept and even embrace these changes. Try to see this change as an opportunity for personal growth and learning, instead of a negative thing.

You’ve dealt with change before, and you’ll do it again

They say that the only constant in life is change. So always remember that you’ve managed to deal with previous changes in your life, so you’ll adapt quickly again this time. If you just graduated and you’re starting work soon, think back to when you first started university – everything about your life changed overnight – but you quickly managed to settle in. Adjusting to the changes that come with starting your new job is no different. You are more adaptable than you think, so draw some confidence from that as you prepare to enter the next chapter of your life. Understand these changes are only temporarily unsettling, and you will quickly form new habits, schedules and rituals, and importantly, start to enjoy your new life.

Try to not feel intimidated

The key word here is “try”. Contrary to popular belief, intimidation is a natural feeling to have. As a matter of fact, people feel intimate in life constantly, more than they like to admit. University or the world of work is a whole different ball game. You’ll almost certainly come across people who are much older than you, know more than you, and are in much more senior positions than you. Try not to feel intimidated by this, instead see it as an opportunity to learn.

Make connections

The simplest way to encourage a good transition is by making a connection in your new settings. This can simply be done through building relationships – forming genuine friendships. Now in no way does this mean you have to force things but you’ll be surprised that having a friend or two that you can relate and share with can help change your perception of the change. This can also help with feeling safe, secure and creating a familiar space for yourself.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

The last thing you need is to be hard on yourself by adding unnecessary pressure to yourself. Relax and breathe. You’re doing well. Don’t expect to understand things the first time you do them – give grace to yourself. Everyone starts somewhere, even that 3^rd-year student that looks like they have their life and academics on lock, they were once a first-year student who probably felt homesick and even displaced. Once again, everyone starts somewhere.

The transition from high school to student life to the world of work can understandably feel intimidating and overwhelming – but it really doesn’t have to be that way if you follow the above five steps.

Like any other year, when the year ends, we begin to reflect. Are you energized for the year that was? Did you experience any life-changing achievements? Stressed by all the outstanding tasks that still need to be completed before the year ends? Disappointed by unattained goals or healing from scars? Most importantly, how are you managing the year coming to an end?

The last couple of months of the year is always busy for everyone. If you’re a student, you’re completing final assignments and preparing for exams or if you’re an employee, you’re wrapping up projects, preparing year-end reports, and making plans for the upcoming 12 months. Add to that the potential stress of family get-togethers and festivities over the holidays, so it’s easy to see how stress levels can start to soar.

While a bit of stress over short periods can improve your performance, high levels of stress that last for longer than a couple of days can have a serious impact on your body and mind. Symptoms of stress include head, neck, and backache; low energy levels; anxiety and depression; forgetfulness; and irritability. And when you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s not too long before both your personal and professional life and or academic start to suffer. So, how can you better manage everything and keep your sanity?

Fortunately, there are several ways to handle year-end stress. Keep the following tips in mind:

Learn how to manage other people’s expectations of you

After altering your own expectations, learn how to manage other people’s expectations of you. Talk to some of your colleagues, friends, and family members about the real expectations that can be completed before the year ends. And if there are some unrealistic expectations that you have identified and would like to either shift to the following year or delegate, be transparent about that.

Break down tasks into bite sizes

One of the biggest stressors is the size of what you have to accomplish. Sometimes just viewing the lists of what we need to do can be massive but it is always about perspective. If possible, break down those big tasks into smaller tasks that can be achieved. This is to help us feel a sense of accomplishment so that we are not overwhelmed.

Do something you enjoy every day. 

Set aside 30 minutes to an hour for an activity you love, such as reading, listening to music, playing your favourite sport, or meeting with a friend. This can help you relax and increase your resilience to stress.

Practice self-care

We tend to put all of our projects and others ahead of us during the end of the year mad rush to get it all done. Don’t do this. You’ll be better equipped to handle stress if your mind and body are healthy. Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, exercise, and get enough sleep.

The end of the year comes with celebrating various holidays and welcoming in a brand-new year. It should be a time of joy and yet; it often comes with the stress of having too much to do and not enough time to get it all done. Following some of these tips might just help you get your energy back and enjoy this holiday time and ringing in the New Year.