Seasonal Transitions: Adjusting to Change
“In a higher world it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often” (St. John Henry Newman).
The Rhythm of Your Family Life
Whether you are a family that prides itself on structure and routine or one that celebrates spontaneity and creative scheduling, outside forces can and do converge, potentially derailing your plans. I’m talking about those forces beyond your control, such as the school calendar, national holidays, and even the weather patterns.
The sun comes up, life happens, the sun goes down, and we strive to fill the time in between with meaningful, productive effort. But when we feel we’re at the mercy of other people’s plans, we can become irritated and fall into patterns of frustration and inefficiency.
Learning to not only accept these intrusions into our carefully, or not-so-carefully, laid plans but also to embrace them may lead to greater peace throughout the ever-changing seasons, and even to more fulfillment and productivity.
“Oh, I can’t wait for…”
We have all heard it, either from our friends or ourselves: “Oh, I can’t wait for school to be out…” “Ugh, I can’t wait for school to start…” “I’m so glad it’s almost Christmas break…” and “Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again,” and the list goes on. Regardless of our current circumstances, we unwittingly sabotage our success by imagining that in a not-so-far-off future, everything will settle down and become more manageable.
We must realize by now that as we continue to push against the present in search of an idyllic future, we only succeed in losing days, weeks, months, and even years in pursuit of the perfect time to get things accomplished.
Today, with all its challenges and interruptions, change is our reality. The most successful people accept that reality is the truth, and we’re all capable of managing life when we begin with what is true.
The True, the Good, and the Beautiful
The truth is that we are busy women with a list of priorities that all vie for our attention. We have families, spouses, and children, in addition to our businesses, personal hobbies, and journeys of faith. The truth is that life is not what we realistically see on social media, nor is it ever as easy as a simple three-step program. Life is messy and constantly changing. The only thing that never changes is change itself. We must stop attempting to live as if this is not the case. Once we accept that things will be in a constant state of flux, everything becomes more manageable.
Change is actually good.
Consider that our world, which God designed to perfection for our survival, is always in a state of change. Change keeps things fresh and new; it prevents us from getting into ruts.
Change is good for our souls because it can bring us closer to God.
What is more beautiful than the first angelic snowfall, the meadow full of wildflowers, or the fiery foliage of late October? That first snowfall can become a slushy, muddy pile of ice. The wildflowers all wither and die, and the gorgeous colors all turn brown and disappear.
However, we all recognize beauty when it is a change from what has been. Monotony is dull and uninspiring. It’s the changes that bring bursts of light, joy, and renewed enthusiasm.
Embracing the Change
Great, so where does that leave us in mid-August when we'll be attempting to adjust to the change once again? It took most of June to adjust to having the kids at home; July was a wash with vacations and running kids around; and August has been a rush of school shopping and trying to reinstitute a bedtime routine before school starts. You may be wondering if you’ll even have a business to come back to once ‘the chaos clears.’
Learn to prepare yourself and your business for the changes that you know are coming, such as changes in school schedules. Yes, there are some changes that come out of nowhere, but even those will be more manageable when we learn to navigate the knowns.
Be Kind to Yourself: Set realistic business goals for the summer, and then don’t beat yourself up for not having had a more productive one.
Make a Plan: I know that sounds simplistic, but too often we overlook the simple solutions and make things more difficult than they need to be. Know when the household schedule will be shifting, and start practicing a few days ahead of time. We used to have a ‘pre-first-week-of-school’ week during which the kids had to go to bed earlier, prepare lunches the night before, and even set an alarm. I would use that week to set up my ‘first week of school’ calendar, and no, that didn’t include daily meetings (refer to step 1 and kindness!).
Remind Yourself That This is a Season: Just as we know for 100% certainty that summer won’t last, neither will fall, winter, or spring; nor will this year of life for your business or your family. What’s the joy in this season? What are the benefits of now versus before, or even in what is to come? Whether everything is perfect or everything is terrible, take heart: this too shall pass.
Maximize the Pros of Each Season: As kids head back to school and many strive to reinstitute a work schedule, look for the positives. It can be easy to complain about the cons, such as having to get up early again and drive the kids to school, but that complaining energy sets us up to fail. Taking the kids to school is a blessing in that it motivates us to get up and get going externally.
Do the Hard Stuff First: Once the kids are at school, take the first 1-2 hours to do the things you dread, the hard stuff, and the tasks that can’t be done once the kids get home. Maybe it’s making phone calls or creating content, either written or video. Those activities are difficult with kids making noise and interruptions. Give yourself two ‘must-get-dones’ in the morning and take advantage of the time alone.
Relax and Enjoy
Yes, that’s what I said. You have a business because you have a passion. You have a family for the same reason. You have an abundance of blessings to focus on differently in each season. Growth is not a straight line up, but a winding road of ups, downs, and curves, so lean in and enjoy the change of scenery because before you know it, Christmas break will be upon us!
Laryn Weaver is a Catholic writer and speaker whose current focus is a ministry of availability and prayer. Her greatest joys are her marriage, her adult children, and her four grandbabies! Find out more about Laryn at larynweaver.com