making changesSome people dread making changes, others not so much.  I get it.  We get into our comfort zones especially as we age.  I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, ‘she’s set in her ways’.  There’s that comfort zone again.

It’s called a comfort zone for a reason. We may not be happy in our current environment, but we know what to expect, so there’s a certain level of comfort in knowing what’s going to happen next whether we like it or not.

Making changes just for the sake of change is not a good reason as far as I’m concerned. If something is working well for you, such as a routine, your home environment, your budget, or your work environment, let it be.  Conversely, if something isn’t working well for you, then it may be time to make a change.

Have you ever gone into a frequently visited store only to find that they moved everything around? Your shopping trip has now taken longer than usual because you can’t find anything. It’s annoying. It appears that they are just making changes for the sake of change. I’m sure it’s some kind of marketing strategy but that doesn’t help you get your shopping done in a timely manner, that is until you acclimate to the new organization of the store.

When the time comes, and it will, to make a change in some aspect of your life, there are some things below you may want to consider to make the change as painless as possible.

Mindset

The way you think about making changes is a very important aspect.  If you go into this problem-solving situation thinking negatively, it’s going to be a real struggle. You need to move from one way of doing something to another, so a positive mindset is key.

Think about it as a project if that helps.  When you get into the proper mindset, you may stop thinking about it as something you don’t want to do, and think about the things you need to do to make it happen.

A plan

Creating a plan and working the plan is a good idea. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, a simple list may be all you need. A list of what you’re currently doing, what is working now, what isn’t working, and what you think you need to do to make the change can be your plan.

When you have all of this written down on paper, you can hopefully see a path to move towards making the desired change.

Baby steps

Now that you’ve created a plan, ease into the change by taking small steps. For example, if you are changing jobs, you may be commuting farther, or closer to home, or even working from home. This may require a change to your morning routine in terms of getting up earlier. By practicing going to bed and getting up earlier, your body will adjust to this new change prior to your actual start date.

How do you manage making changes in your life?