Know Your Daily Patterns

We all have patterns and routines within our day. These patterns can be effective and productive or they can squander our time.

Many people have beginning of the day routines, after meal routines and end of day routines. Within our work life we also have beginnings and endings.We can also have before we turn on the computer, while it shuts down and right after using the computer.Knowing these available transition times, can be helpful in developing good patterns.

First take some time to look at the patterns that are working. Let's call these the Your Effective Transition Times. These are often well entrenched and serve us well. For instance every night before I go to bed, I set up my coffee maker to run. My current model does not have a timer, but when I press the button, this gives me time to unload the dishwasher which I run in the evening. I have been following this pattern for over 20 years and it works well for me. Recently I have also added in taking my vitamins and drinking 6 ounces of water before I drink my coffee.  These are tiny habit* patterns I am currently working on. They are not firmly entrenched into my life, but I have begun. It will take a while for it to become routine, but when linked with other routines I have found better success.  

Next look at potential transition times you are not using. These we will call Your Potential Transition Times. For instance I don't have any habits placed in my after computer or while my computer shuts down. These are two times I can add in some productive habits. To get a habit established, find the "natural breaks" to make it more effective.

Think about these available times when you want to make a productive change in your life. Can you use these Potential Transition Times or add to your most Effective Transition Times (the ones already in use). As a cautionary measure do not overload your effective transition times. I suggest having no more that 6 items in your "habit string".

Another factor to consider is your usual daily energy level to perform tasks. If you are a morning person (lark), load up in your AM routines, but lighten up in the evening. If you are a night own, by all means make your evening routines larger.

By knowing and understanding your daily patterns you will be well on your way to make transitions in your life. 

 
* BJ Fogg, a professor at Stamford University is working on the Tiny Habit project. Read more about it here. I would like to thank my colleague Margaret Lukens for her insight into this program.

Get Creative

This is a great video: 29 Ways to Stay Creative.

What do you do to stay creative?

What is it all about? Time to Review!

If you are a new viewer here at Transition Your Life, you may be wondering what this blog is all about.

This blog is about change and making transition. It is here to serve as a mental prompt or idea generator for you, when you are experiencing a life transition.  This means you could also be starting on a change, in the middle of a change,  or even just pondering change. 

Change is what we all do. The only thing constant is change. Change is seldom easy.

When I started my blog in August of 2007, I wrote:

This Site is for testing ideas and thoughts before setting out on your next journey, whether it be a career change, new family, or even post retirement.

The goal of my site is to keep it simple, keep it short -- occasional postings under 300 words. 
 
So I think I have been keeping up with the concept. Keep reading.

Three ways to Transition your Attitude

Change and transition's are generally difficult. If you have been involuntarily made to change, a change of attitude may make a big difference.

Three ways to change or transition your attitude:

1. Try looking at things with a perspective outside of yourself.
2. Visualize a good outcome and rethink strategically how to get to that place.
3. Be grateful you have to experience this discomfort and appreciate the insightful lesson's you will learn.

Growth comes from change. Start with changing your attitude. You will enjoy the journey much more.

This is a best of post from 2009

Do Two More

 This guest post is by Michelle Peralta of The Run-Down

Two more minutes reading, two more sheets to fold, two more reps at the gym, two more minutes on the phone with an old  friend, two more minutes on yourself.

Apply this wherever you see fit. I started at the gym.  Just two more squats, two more minutes running, two more push-ups. It kind of revs you up a bit, because you really want to finish strong and make it worth it. You eventually see and feel results; physically and mentally. Where do you think can you apply Two More?


Michelle Peralta is an Arizona Blogger who enjoys writing about fitness, food and finding balance. Visit her blog at  The Run-Down 

Coping with the Unexpected

Are you in troubled waters? Has life thrown you a curve ball? Both of these are metaphors for unplanned and unexpected changes and pending life transitions.

Here are four ways to help you cope with the unexpected.

1)  Acknowledge you are going through a tough time.

2) Make a resolve to take care of your physical self. Eat well, continue or step up the exercise. Get plenty of sleep.

3) Be aware of your mental and emotional health. When times are tough we usually experience stress on an extreme level. This causes us to experience more emotions and creates more mental anxiety. Be willing to seek the advise of physical and mental health professionals to help you get you through theses trying times if you find you are not coping well.

4) Don't go it alone. Seek out friends and family to confide and communicate with. A transition coach can also be part of the assistance you may need to help you through this time. 

Take the First Steps

At the beginning of the new year, resolutions abound. To keep yourself going, ask yourself "What are the first steps I need to take to begin working on my resolution?". Take for example, the resolution of eating healthy in 2012 - Your first step might be to create a weekly menu and post it on your refrigerator. If exercise is going to be one of your resolutions, putting on your exercise shoes at some point in your day will be a first step component each time you start your exercise regime.

Knowing your first steps is important in making a transition. These first steps may be elusive for some resolutions, but take some time to think them out and you will have a key component of making a change.

What are some of your first steps for your resolutions?