The longer I do what I do, the more people I work with, the more closely I look at how we get stuff done – the more I’m convinced of the importance of transitions.

Some transitions are more obvious: maybe half an hour ago you were replying to email and now you are reading this article. There was a space between those two activities that you navigated in some way.

But some transitions are more subtle. They are the moments when something about our energy or emotional state shifts.

Learning to recognize and navigate these subtle transitions is super-useful in managing our time and energy in ways that leave us feeling satisfied rather than demoralized.

Transitions like…

• That moment when [insert your social media of choice here] shifts from being a heap of fun to a horrible house of mirrors.

• That moment when editing your work shifts from polishing to fussing over details that don’t matter.

• That moment when planning shifts from organizing your thoughts so you can take action to avoiding taking that action.

In those moments, there is a point when it’s important to recognize that – at lease for now – this thing is as good as it’s going to get. That might change tomorrow or next week, but for today – this is it. In this moment, no amount of lingering or checking or pushing or self-coaching is going to change that. Doing so is just a waste of your time and energy.

Learn to recognize those moments when something is as good as it’s going to get.

Sometimes it’s when your flow just peters out. Sometimes it’s a rise in anxiety or frustration. If you pay attention, you’ll come to recognize however it manifests for you.

Learn to act on it.

The moment the thought this is done for now crosses your mind, stop. Just stop. In the beginning, it doesn’t matter so much what you do next as it does to simply move on.

That next thing doesn’t have to be something significant from your to-do list. In fact, it’s probably better if it’s not.

Since I work from home, I often turn to domestic chores in such moments. Loading the dishwasher or starting a load of laundry is a good way for me to shake off whatever I’ve just been doing. (Hint: transitions and maintenance are a match made in heaven.) Having caught my breath, I can then turn my attention back to the bigger tasks of the day.

If I don’t give myself such a bridge, I bring all the subtle ick of what I’ve just-been-doing-but-should-have-left-sooner into my next task. It’s important in the in-between to give yourself the chance to release and recharge – and you can do it in less than five minutes.

Prepare for it.

These sorts of transitional moments happen all the time – so be ready for them by giving yourself transitional activities to turn to.

Create a list* of quick, energizing activities that ground and cheer you.
Put it someplace where you will see it when you need it – like on the bulletin board above your desk. My list includes activities like: dance to theme song, hula hoop, apply spray and lotion, stretch, walk the dog, water the garden.

Create a list* of small, easy routine tasks that need doing, but don’t take a lot of mental and emotional energy.
Again, put it someplace where you will see it when you need it. In addition to dishwashing and laundry, my list includes admin activities like filing and entering receipts.

Create a list* of  your top three tasks for the day or week.
Once again, put it someplace where you will see it when you need it. It’s hard to move on to the next thing when you don’t know what the next thing is. Make it easy to refocus your attention by giving yourself easy to follow instructions.

[ *When I say list, you know I don't mean something boring - make it a gorgeous mind-map or collage if you like - you know, something that inspires you to use it. ]

As you become more skilled in recognizing and acting on these transitional moments, you’ll get better at knowing which activities will most help you depending on the shift that took place. Emotionally triggered? Ground and cheer. Flow petered out? Switch it up and recharge. Lost your focus? Revisit your priorities.

There’s nothing wrong with arriving at that point of good-as-it’s-gonna-get-for-now. It’s just part of the rhythm and cycle of things.

What is important is learning how to recognize those moments when something shifts and act on it so you can successfully navigate the transition (rather than deny the reality of the situation).

I promise doing so will leave you feeling much less depleted and far more productive at the end of the day.

• • • • •

Related posts:

1. Life Is Good
2. A tired mind does not make good choices.
3. Why It's Good to Get Out of the Home Office
4. On Losing Power & Making Space for Good New Things
5. When Mood and Desire Are More Alike Than Not