If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s change. Life today is very different from how it was twenty years ago, and we can be sure that it will be a different world 20 years from now. Change is often stressful, and may lead to feelings of sadness, fear, and anger.
But we can also learn to handle change with grace and skill, becoming stronger in the process. Here are some strategies that can help you cope better with change:
- Change the things that you can, and let go of the rest. Dwelling on things that are out of your control will only cause you pain.
- Get organized. Leave more time to get to appointments. Fix or replace broken items. Put things away so you’ll know where to find them.
- Manage your workload. Set priorities and do the most important things first. Get assistance from others.
- Don’t add more changes. If you’re already struggling with a lot of changes, try to postpone big decisions or other changes until things settle down.
- Give yourself a break. Take time off for fun and relaxation every day, every week, and every year–especiallywhen it’s hectic. A half-hour stroll through a park, or even a fifteen-minute daydream vacation, can be refreshing.
- Look at change as an opportunity to learn new skills and a challenge to rise to the occasion. How you view change makes a big difference in your stress level. Good things often come out of life’s unplanned twists and turns, especially when we keep an open mind.
- Build a support network. Spend more time talking with co-workers, friends, and family who give you encouragement, and spend less time with people who bring you down.