Transitions
What in the world could you possibly need with transitions? Well, have you ever left your work setting and felt a bit frustrated or sad by the day? Have you ever driven home and cried or yelled in the car when you are all alone? Have you ever entered work and felt disconnected or worried about something going on at home? I have. I have pretty much experienced every one of these over my 30-year career in some form or fashion. I figured out the hard way and want to help you figure it out faster.
Transitions are the small things we do that help us move from one setting to another especially in our line of work where we sit across from those who are suffering each day. These gestures or routines can make all the difference in your mood, your intention, and your awareness. You know how athletes often times will do the same thing every time before shooting a free throw or kicking a field goal? They do this because it mentally, and maybe even emotionally, prepares them for this next part.
Story time....my first Social Work job was as a Case Manager working in an outpatient community mental health center and I was tasked with keeping kids in their home through involvement in the home, school, and courts. I heard and saw a lot of distressing things and did not have the appropriate tools to manage this and learn to leave it at work. So, you guessed it. I took it home. I cried on my drives home, yelled at the top of my lungs in my car, and had frequent nightmares. I was also a mom of a 2-year-old, married, and had just moved away from everyone we knew. After about one year, I realized this can't be the way I go through my career. I made a change. I discovered that I needed to learn to acknowledge the distress but to leave it where it needed to be left until I could pick it up and deal with it again. I started using the shutting of doors as my transitions. When I left my home and kissed my family, the worries and concerns at home remained there until my return. When I entered my car and drove to work, I allowed myself to think about my day and what tasks I had to accomplish that day. I prepared for my return to work. When I entered my work setting or a client's home or school, then I was present and attentive to what I needed to do for that individual. When I left work and closed my office door or entered my car to drive home, the reverse occurred. I prepared for my return home.
Later when I began work in the hospital setting, I used the hand sanitizer as my transition in and out of patient's room. It would allow me about 10-15 seconds as I rubbed my hands together to think about my interaction and purpose with this patient/family and then when leaving the room, I would take 10-15 seconds to process. Gel in and Gel out! I also stopped listening to music and the radio when I was in my car so that I could focus on being mindful. This really helped my body calm and brain relax. You can notice a lot of beautiful things when you sit at a traffic light and look around your surroundings.
I encourage you to think about ways that you can transition from home to work and work to home. Notice if the lack of transitions impacts your mood or thoughts and then give these strategies a try. See if transitions provide you with what you need to feel more balanced and intentional in your interactions and your day.
Happy Transitioning!