I thought I had it all planned out.
Then my husband got laid off, I came back from three weeks in Malaysia completely discombobulated, and my carefully planned business launch fell apart. Suddenly, I couldn’t get back to my old rituals and routines and NOTHING was getting done.
Think of it this way. Have you ever had to drive someone else’s car or rented a car for a few days that was not your own? It takes time to get used to the vehicle and in fact you might feel frustrated learning the new buttons and getting used to a whole new space! That’s what transitions feel like, and while the intensity of a transition might be different, what's key is recognizing that your old routine for how you settled in your car may have to shift a bit.
For me, a regular routine is the indicator for stability, predictability and control. But in business, these elements are harder to come by especially as a new business owner and entrepreneur. Sometimes these elements don’t come until years later when you’ve created standards of operation (SOP’s) and, have consistent quarterly income and perhaps expanded your team to help you with administrative support.
Overall, it feels great when you finally come to a stable foundation in your business and you no longer feel this huge transition. However, sometimes we go through transitions we don’t expect.
Hence why I’ve been taking a hiatus from my business, taking time to look after myself, and creating a new way of life.
I know it sounds dramatic but I promise it will all make sense soon.
This month I’ve paused on my workshops and frankly have paused on my business operations. No new content has come out, no new podcast episodes (though I’m still working on), no new YouTube videos and no new newsletters.
Over the past month, I’ve found myself wishing things were back to before Malaysia, to before my husband’s lay-off and realized that that was because I was trying to get back to a routine when that was not my reality. But because it was my reality, I had to create a new routine, one that accommodated this call from the universe that we were about to experience a huge shift in our lives.
Sometimes we don't realize it, but life transitions are doors to bigger, better, more blessed opportunities. They might seem risky, perhaps even scary and uncertain, but if you open up to them instead of wishing things went back to what they were before, you may find a new motivation, and desire to live the life you've been dreaming about - not the one you've been settling for.
Whether you are launching your first business, losing a major client or recovering from a failed launch, I want to remind you of tips and practices to help you come back to solid ground.
Navigating Life Transitions: A Beabosscoaching Guide
Start Here: Embracing New Rituals and Routines
Sometimes we grasp our routines because it’s what’s comfortable. As humans, we naturally grasp onto what's familiar and safe - those rituals and routines that create consistency and predictability in our lives. But here's the thing: no matter how hard you try, your current routine might no longer be able to sustain your new circumstances. It's completely okay to create a new way to walk through life. Give yourself permission to let go of what used to work and embrace what will work now.
Let’s start with basics:
1. Give Yourself Time to Adapt
Transitions require adaptability to the new situation, and adaptation takes time. You're not supposed to feel settled immediately. Give yourself the space to slowly settle into a new way of life, routine, or ritual. There's no rush - your new normal will emerge naturally as you practice these steps.
2. Give Yourself Grace
You're handling a lot right now. Give yourself the same grace you would give someone else going through a similar situation. For me, this looks like not beating myself up after only sending two emails or taking an hour nap in the middle of the day.
3. Create Your Go-To Daily Self-Care List
During seasons of transition, it's easy to operate from crisis mode and forget to take care of yourself. Create a list of your go-to self-care needs - things that genuinely restore you. This might include taking a hot shower, calling a friend, going for a walk, or listening to music. Aim for doing at least one of these daily as a way to ground yourself and remind your system that you're safe and cared for.
4. Know Your Support Network
Know who you can go to and what communities you can tap into to avoid the comfort of isolation. Write down specific names and how to reach them. Isolation feels comfortable during transitions, but connection is what actually helps you process and move forward. This could be friends, family, support groups, online communities, or professional help.
5. Start Each Day with Intention
Every morning, create a wish list of goals you want to accomplish for the day. Keep this list close by and reference it throughout the day to keep yourself focused on what matters most. Start small - even three things you want to get done is enough. This gives your day structure when everything else feels uncertain.
6. Change Your Environment When You Need Fresh Perspective
Sometimes a change in environment can boost creativity and help you focus on what you choose to focus on, rather than worried thoughts that pull your concentration away. This doesn't mean you need to redecorate your whole house - try working from a different room, going to a coffee shop, or even just rearranging your desk. Small environmental shifts can create big mental shifts.
7. Use Focused Time Blocks
Set a timer for a single task - I like to give myself 30 minutes to work on one thing without distraction. Sometimes I give myself another 30 minutes to continue if I hit a state of flow. This technique helps when your mind feels scattered because it gives you a concrete, manageable timeframe to focus on just one thing.
8. Journal Without Judgment
Journal your thoughts and worries without worrying about making sense, grammar, or even spelling words right. Just get your thoughts out, either with pen and paper or typing (I prefer typing because I'm much faster). Let yourself riff and dump all the single thoughts you have onto the page. You'll often find yourself working toward a state of flow and new ideas will emerge. Isn't it beautiful when you come to that state of flow?
9. Ground Yourself Through Meditation
Meditation teaches us to come back to the present moment, to acknowledge our thoughts and learn how to let them go. Even five minutes of focused breathing can help reset your nervous system when transition anxiety kicks in. You don't need to be perfect at it - just consistent.
Reader, here's what I want you to know: the fact that old routines aren't working anymore means you're growing. It means you're becoming someone who requires different things, who has different priorities, and who is capable of more.
You don't have to navigate this alone. In fact, you're not supposed to…
I'd love to invite you to join me for a free event called Business and Life Update with Bea on July 3rd from 5-6 pm PST. Come hang out with me to share your business and life updates in community and in celebration. Whether you're in the thick of a transition or celebrating how far you've come, this is your space to be seen and supported.
I'm excited to see you there! RSVP at beabosscoaching.com/events
Till next time!
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