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If there’s anything we can be certain of in our lives, it’s that change is inevitable.
Whether it’s moving to a new city or even a new state, getting married, getting divorced, starting a new job, or losing a loved one, we all face major life changes and transitions throughout our lives that challenge us.
During life transitions like these, it’s easy to neglect ourselves and put our own needs last. This can ultimately compromise our mental health and well-being, and takes a toll on our abilities to cope effectively.
If you’re in the midst of a major life change or transition, learn how you can better care for yourself with these 4 self-care tips.
How to Practice Self-Care During Life Transitions
1. Be kind to yourself. How you treat yourself is a reflection of how you treat others. Think of your interactions with others as of late. Have you been rushed? Short? Maybe even a little snippy with them? If you’re at all stressed, more than likely it’s affecting how you treat others, and more importantly how you treat yourself. During a life change or transition, be kind to yourself. Change is hard enough-why make it harder by being brutal to yourself? Take the time to slow things down and process how you’re feeling. We all need some personal time to cope when our lives go through a major change.
2. Find a way to release your stress. We all have our go-to rituals that we utilize when we need some comfort in our lives. And during a life transition, you need these self-care rituals more than ever. Think of how you like to unwind. Is it over a glass of wine with a friend? Watching Netflix with your partner? Starting a new book? Focus on making time for activities that balance and ground you.
3. Take small steps. In the midst of a major life change, more than likely you’re going to feel lost and overwhelmed at times. Slow down, and take small steps to work through the transition. Go at a pace that still allows you to move forward, but without losing your sanity in the process. When you can break down your plan into manageable steps, you’re prioritizing not only your goals, but also yourself in the process.
4. Reassess your values. When life throws us a curve ball, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s most important in our lives. For example, getting fired from your job or having your partner break up with you were probably not in your “5 Year Plan,” but that’s life. When major life events like these occur, take the time to reflect on your values. What’s most important to you? Maybe you have a wonderful family to be grateful for, or a solid network of friends. At the end of the day, these are the things that matter most, and will matter far more (and far longer) than even the most difficult of life transitions.
Related: How to Let Go of Things You Can’t Change or Control
