kudos on your big life change. Now what?
It’s important to acknowledge a big change. Give yourself credit for what it took to make that big decision to change jobs, find a new career, relocate, retire and any number of transitions. And when it’s done, reflect on everything you did to then make it happen. It takes a lot of courage, energy, stamina, brainpower, and possibly a few tears to make a big change.
But what happens next? What happens on the other side of that change? I am contemplating this question in real time. I just moved to a new city and now what?
For me, it is a whole new beginning in a number of ways.
New city. Ok, I grew up here so maybe not so new. Let’s say I am rediscovering it later in life. I haven’t lived here since I was in my early 20’s.
Building my new career.
Eventually finding a new place to live.
Right now I am taking it slow. I am working on getting settled. I am connecting with family and friends.
I’m having mixed emotions. I am excited, nervous, relieved and a bit overwhelmed. All normal feelings and to be expected.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Allow time to adjust to your new circumstances. It is going to take time for you to get used to your new reality - it will happen gradually and take a full year to completely adjust. And you might even grieve for what used to be and that’s ok. You made a change for a reason and yet there is comfort in the life you used to know. You knew how to live it. Remember why you made that change and the grieving for the familiar will subside.
Process your thoughts and feelings. Take advantage of the question that your friends, coworkers, and family are going to ask you - How’s it going?. Tell them and be honest. Just voicing the good and the not so good feelings helps. It’s the perfect way to process how you are feeling about it. And if you are not quite ready to share your thoughts with others, start by writing it down. It will be a good resource for the next big change you are inevitably going to make.
Get back to a routine. Sometimes just getting back to a tried and true routine can help you feel grounded after experiencing a lot of “new”.
If you are thinking about making a major change, in the midst of making a major change or on the other end of it, DM me on linkedin and let me know how it is going. I would love to hear from you.