Panoramic view of farrand field with students hanging out outside.

It can feel overwhelming to experience a number of changes all at once, even when they’re positive. As restrictions loosen, we may find ourselves stepping out into a world that feels different or uncertain. 

Whether you’re graduating, taking summer classes or preparing for break, here are a few tips to help you thrive during times of transition and change.

Allow yourself to feel a range of emotions

Change can be difficult, even when it’s positive. As you move through changes, it’s important to allow yourself to feel each emotion that comes up for you (anxiety, tiredness, excitement, etc.). Remember that you can hold multiple emotions at once, and there isn’t always a clear answer as to how you should feel. For instance, you can be optimistic about things opening up and nervous to get back to normal, excited for summer and sad to leave your friends, glad for a break and bored all at the same time. Acknowledging and validating those feelings can help you move through change in a mindful way.

Identify and act on things you can control

It’s also important to identify and understand the things that are within your control. What you do with that information is equally important. Here are a few ways to identify and act on things you can control:

Take a proactive approach.

When we are faced with change, being proactive can help us plan for the unexpected. Here are a few examples of ways to be proactive:

  • Make a packing list
  • Brainstorm summer projects
  • Identify people you can reach out to for support
  • Update your resume or schedule a meeting with Career Services

Acknowledge things you can’t control.

Acknowledge that you may not always be in control of certain situations, but there may be ways to mitigate negative thoughts. Here are a few examples:

  • While I can’t control the internship or job market, it’s helpful to know what to expect.
  • While I can’t control the weather on moving day, I can have my raincoat or umbrella ready.
  • While I can’t control what happens with the pandemic, it’s important to know how I can stay healthy and safe.

Find healthy ways to cope.

Even when we understand that things are out of our control, it can be difficult to cope. Here are a few ideas of healthy coping strategies you can use:

  • Meditation or mindfulness practices
  • Journaling or using a gratitude journal
  • Talking with a professional or someone you trust
  • Staying physically active and enjoying time outside
  • Spending time with people you care about
  • Celebrating small victories

Take care of yourself

Change can be hectic, and it may leave us feeling burnt out or exhausted. It’s important to remember to take care of yourself. Make time to create or review your self-care plan. You can use this free self-care assessment to get started. It can help you identify areas that are working as well as some that you may need to spend more time in. If you need ideas of how to practice self-care, check out this article on self-care activities to try.

Resources

CU Boulder offers a number of resources that can help you plan for the future and cope with changes. Here are just a few:

  • Career Services
    Career Services has a number of resources available to students, including major exploration, resume and cover letter support, job and internship searches and interview help.
     
  • Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
    CAPS has a number of mental health programs to help students process change and life transitions, including individual counseling, drop-in services through e-Let’s Talk and workshops.