Change + Stress = Growth

Have you ever had a period of time in your life where it felt like everything was changing and nothing was the same? I’ve had a few of these times in my life: my transition from high school to college, learning to be an employee after 18 consecutive years of school and the end of a significant relationship. These times challenged me and, at times, just plain STRESSED ME OUT! Looking back, I see that those stressful, worrisome times came with a lot of personal growth. They also eventually ended. Hallelujah!
 
The last few weeks have been another “growth spurt” for me, if you will. I took the leap into full-time self-employment. This included leaving a part-time job that I loved and moving out of an office I adored. To be fair, my new office is pretty amazing (see photos here) and being 100% self-employed has long been a goal for me.

So why do I feel so frazzled?
 
Several wise people in my life have recently reminded me that change is not easy. Even when it is the result of great things. It forces you to adjust to new routines and can present unforeseen frustrations.
 
To be honest, I have not handled this change as gracefully as I hoped. A fair amount of grumbling and a few tears have led me here today. My hope is that sharing my experience will help you feel better about your change/stress/growth spurt. It also helps me be accountable to try my hardest, too. :)
 
Whether you are a parent, a teen or a college student – you will face changes and stressful times. Here are my thoughts on how to stay grounded and less grumpy as you change and grow.

1. Keep doing your thing. Eat regular meals. Move your body. Get enough sleep. These are incredibly important all the time, but perhaps even more so as your stress level increases.
2. Prioritize. This one is hard for me. I want to do everything all the time. Realistically you, (and I) need to pick your battles. And by battles I mean do the most important stuff and if the less important stuff is delayed, it is OKAY!
3. Ask for help. Also hard for me. You do not have to do this alone.
4. Leave some time for fun. This is probably the part that has been the most successful for me during this change. I’ve gone to a few baseball games, spent time with some visiting family and have some fun plans coming for Memorial Day weekend. I wouldn’t be okay if I hadn’t taken these breaks.

Where can you start today? My plan is to sit down and prioritize my to-do list. I’m also planning to do a little meditation and grounding exercise on my (awesome) office patio a little later.
 
Please, share your feedback and thoughts below!

---

---

Bethany Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
She is dedicated to helping teens and families be happy and healthy!