Getting shoes on. Walking out the door.

Getting in the car. Driving to work. Taking a lunch break.

Walking in and out of jobs, projects, classes or meetings.

Returning home. Shifting focus from work to home life.

Play/ creative time. Bedtime.

What do all of these mundane daily activities have in common? These are all daily transitions and such a constant part of our days that we rarely recognize the energy they take. 

Unless we're stressed. . . or late. . . or a shoe goes missing. . .

Without an interruption we just push on through each transition without taking note that we are changing from one thing to another. Yet if we were to take the time, we would be able to capture the energy in these transitions and mark both the change and our successes throughout the day. 

So if life feels rushed, relationships become strained over "the little stuff", and you forget what's worth celebrating by the end of the day then you will absolutely benefit from noting your transitions and adding a dose of grace.

Here are the 3 ways to walk through daily transitions with grace: 

1. Build extra time into the transition itself.

Anyone that has difficulty transitioning during the day could do with extra time. It really doesn't matter the person's age or reason. We all experience change differently and all these little daily transitions are moments of change. That means it's easy for stress to build up. The easiest solution to smooth out these transitions is to allow extra time to move through them. Often what feels so long and inconvenient is only 2-5 extra minutes. Two minutes to breathe and connect will always move everyone into the next thing with more energy than pushing and arguing.

2. Build time into the end of a “project.” 

In the initial stages of the creative process the creator is making connections, jumping from one idea to the next, and totally engrossed in their own importance and that of their project. (This is where we live as young children.) When it is “suddenly” time to clean up it seems like an unfair shock to the system. And if there’s not enough time to clean up slowly and thoughtfully, relishing in everything we’ve thought and made, then it will be a stressful transition for the creator and anyone trying to deal with them. (Again this is true for children and adults alike.) The solution is to mark creative time in 3 sections: active creation, assimilation of information, and then clean up. Assimilation time is when you organize, catalogue, document, and remember. This will always leave the creator inspired and encouraged for the next time they can return to their work.

3. Create a transition marker. 

Transition markers are visual and physical cues. They are 3rd on the list because while they are powerful tools they take time to experience so I wanted to discuss adding more time into the transition moment first. Transition markers facilitate more thoughtful, peaceful transitions. A marker could be as simple as a photo, painting, or quote hung on the wall. Or a marker could be as elaborate as a well placed table with a display of mini-treasures or a transition chair and side table stocked with a journal and pen. The goal is to create, and allow time to use, the transition marker as you move through your day. It is a chance to focus on this moment, to remember your big vision, and to assimilate the two throughout the day. 

The key is allowance. When you allow time, grace, and space for daily transitions you open tiny windows to decrease stress and increase peace.