Let me begin by saying that we are almost always transitioning throughout life. Whether it be transitioning from one life change, like an acquired brain injury, into another life change, such as a new career, school or volunteer position. That being said, along with our transition, we are also constantly using the SRL cycle, which is how we control our own learning process. The SRL cycle, along with using cognitive strategies, helps keep me grounded and helps me set expectations of myself and my environment.

My current transition is continuing in the ABI Program, but also in taking on a part-time job. I am challenged, and I experience successes and failures, but I’m using what I’ve learned from the SRL cycle by using strategies to assist my transition from ABI Program, to work, and home life.

Here are some of the ways I have found to be helpful.

In planning a work day or preparing for a day at the ABI Program, I try to prep the night before. I’ll choose maybe two options of what to wear. This saves me time for the morning as I’m aware that I may take too much time to find an outfit, and if I can’t decide on my attire or take too long to choose, it can cause me to be stressed and feel rushed.

Preparing my snack or lunch, if needed, the day prior helps as well and also takes the stress out of having to figure it out.

I make sure that I charge all my devices during the night so that they’re charged in the morning. However, I have to plan ahead and monitor so that, if a device doesn’t charge for some reason, I have an additional device and bring along an extra charger as well.

I use the Evernote notetaking app and also keep a notebook for handwritten notes. I write important thoughts, ideas, or things that someone tells me so that I can refer back to it; this also helps keep me more organized as I know that keeping little paper notes for myself doesn’t typically work.

For the most part, I’ve learned to transition my notes and reminders either in apps like Evernote, or using a task management app like Todo. I can set alerts in these apps to remind myself so that I stay on task better at home for everyday tasks, at school for assignments, and especially at work as there is so much information to process and remember.

These strategies help me to better plan whatever I’m working on or need to do throughout my day. I’m able to monitor and say to myself, “Okay, this plan is working today, but this one isn’t. What do I need to adjust to help my plan work better for me?” It’s trying to work smarter instead of harder.

There are times when the best laid plans don’t go so smoothly. For most people, that can be a small setback. However, for those of us that have more challenges and difficulties than the average person, it can really rock our world. So, in dealing with the constant transitions of everyday life, I try some of these techniques to help me when I start to become overwhelmed or fatigued.

Fatigue is a difficult issue for me, as it it is for many of us. If you never take a break to “reboot” your brain, or stay in constant “go” mode, your energy level will be be consistently depleted, like funds being withdrawn from a bank. We have to remember to make those deposits back into our “energy bank” with things that give us joy, like listening to our favorite music, enjoying a loved one’s company, playing with our pets or just getting outside for fresh air and exercise.

Breathing techniques, like deep breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, and refocusing attention on something else, can help calm or reduce your anxieties and stress. When I am more mindful to take a few moments to reflect or extract myself from a situation, it helps me think before I react and potentially avoid a confrontational outcome.

Communicating our needs to others is also what I’ve found helpful in my transition. While many times we like to be independent, there are just some things we may not be able to take on all at once, or can’t do as well as we once did. Having trusted sources to assist or bounce ideas off of is very helpful. Others’ feedback, whether we agree with it or not, can be vital, whether trying to make a decision or working on a project. It helps us get a fresh perspective on how we might approach something differently, allowing us to better plan, monitor and evaluate each situation in our life. And with that come mistakes which help us learn how we can do something better. And with that comes more experience, and improved self-confidence.

The transitional challenges of life will always be there; it’s up to us how we handle them. Acknowledging that some things are just out of our control and trying to be more flexible can work in our favor. Sometimes we might have to just think of life’s little detours as a fun, alternate route with new scenery.

It’s important that we reflect on our successes, and not just our failures. The struggles we encounter are a stepping stone to our growth in our new or old talents, everyday life, and discovering or rediscovering ourselves, our accomplishments, and our future.

I will end with this quote I find encouraging: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” ~ Winston Churchill