How to Crush the Transitions in Life
If we use the bathroom 10 minutes a day, we will have spent over 6 months of our lives in the bathroom.
The average person spends two hours a day watching T.V. (wow).
We will also spend about 1 year of our entire life just cleaning.
Dated research revealed that we spend over 2 years of our life merely waiting (traffic, lines in a supermarket, etc.). Although, online apps have now changed our entire behavior by being able to pre-order. This is cool of course but doesn’t help with our patience.
William Penn once said, “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”
One way to build everyday Mental Toughness is to crush the transitions in life.
A transition is a process.
We can have major transformations, like changing careers, mid-transitions, such as waiting in an airport and minor changes, like driving from the gym to work.
Crushing the minor transitions is the BEST way to get BETTER. The goal of a successful transition is that we are in the best spot mentally when we arrive.
Since we are busier now than ever before and if we are a leader, then we need to become more of a fire marshal than a fire-fighter. We need to understand and act when needed, but also, when to rest, wait, and simply avoid action.
Here are 8 ways to crush the transitions in life
1) Evaluate-
Where am I right now and where do I need to focus?
Is it urgent?
Is it important?
Do I need to relax more, address my business, gain more knowledge, or connect with others?
2) Breathe-
The absolute perfect time to focus on our rectangle breathing is now. Get centered. Get relaxed, take a break.
3) Listen to a podcast-
I drive a ton and while I’m paid to read, I also try to crush audio-books and podcast episodes. Martin Rooney, Jocko, are killer one’s. The transitions in life are meant to be utilized.
Hey, check out our podcast- 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness
4) Turn off the agitator-
The mental game is more about subtraction than it is addition.
It is often about removing things that do not make us better.
There is a lady who constantly talks on her phone while on the treadmill (Yeah, she doesn’t work hard). I HATE IT.
But, you know what, that’s not her problem, that’s mine. I hate treadmills and avoid them when possible. I just have to remove myself from the situation.
5) Make a Call-
The opposite of isolation is connection.
Reach out and contact a friend, coach, colleague, family member, or business associate. Make a connection with others a goal of your transitions in life.
6) Remove the phone-
When we have a minute of downtime we pull-out the phone and check twitter, facebook, Instagram, whatever.
I do this too much and it becomes a habit. ” I can’t wait to be patient.”
Unfortunately, it’s become a HUGE distraction and time spender. It also becomes an instant way to go to negative town inside of my own head.
7) Gratitude list–
Gratitude is memory of the heart! It is tough to be hateful and grateful at the same time. It also represents a way to show our perspective and humility.
Write out 10 people, places, or things that you are grateful for.
8) Pray-
And if that doesn’t work, Pray again.
God usually answers, “ask me again tomorrow.”
Prayer is an active form of perspective and also one of the best ways to crush the transitions in life.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
