How to navigate change in the new year

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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.