With every new day that we have, there are many opportunities to make the moves towards the future we desire. The events of the past months may have caused us to focus more on now and not allow ourselves to dream or think about the future. Now is a perfect time to start dreaming again.
 
In this blog post, we will explore three tips to help us transition to the next phase and make the best of the upcoming months.  Check out part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 of the transition preparation guide.
 
#1: Do something that makes you happy
With things improving around us, it is the perfect time to do something that makes you happy. We all had to take a break from doing a lot of things. However, there are now little things that we can start doing again.  Plan to do something small that brings you joy. It could be getting a haircut, eating one of your favorite meals, visiting the farmers market or having a picnic. Remember to be careful and observe the safety measures in place where you live.
 
Strategies to consider

• Make a list of some of the special things you can do safely
• Do one of the fun things on your list over the next week

 
#2: Celebrate your key milestones
If you celebrated a birthday, welcomed a new family member, or had a major milestone over the past 4 months, it was definitely a strange time. In order to celebrate milestones in these times, we have had to find new ways to mark them. We could never have imagined that we will be having virtual birthday parties, baby showers or even graduations.  We are fortunate that with everything going on, we can still connect with people who care about us. Over the past weeks, I have had some great family time to celebrate milestones via video chat. 
 
Strategies to consider

• Think about a special way to celebrate your next milestone
• Schedule time to celebrate your next milestone

 
#3: Highlight the good things in your life
Focusing on the good things that happen in our lives, gives us an energy boost. It is easy to let the negative experiences take over our mind. We have to be more intentional and choose to focus on the positive experiences. One technique that I use to ensure that I celebrate the good in my life is to share them with someone around me or write them down. This practice helps me ensure that the happy moments in my life don't pass by unnoticed. It is always fun to go back over my list and review my recent highlights.
 
Strategies to consider

• Think about your highlight of the last week or month
• Share your highlight with someone special

 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with one lesson that I have learned:
Recently, I have come to the realization that with everything going on, having a positive attitude is crucial. It is easy to be consumed by all the news and scary things happening around me. Every day when I wake up, I remind myself that I am fortunate to be alive and have what I have.
 
Call to Action
When was the last time you laughed deeply? Find things that make you happy.

Wishing all the fathers in our lives a Happy Father’s Day. I am incredibly grateful for all the amazing men in my life. Hope you made some time to appreciate the men in your life. Celebrating the amazing people in our lives during times like these makes it even more special.
 
In this blog post, we will explore three tips to help us transition to the next phase and make the best of the upcoming months.  Check out part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the transition preparation guide.
 
#1: Reflect on what you have learned over the past months
There is so much that we can learn from unexpected situations like the one we all experienced over the past months. One thing that we can do is to ensure that we leverage those lessons and apply them to our lives moving forward. One of the ways that I have been capturing the lessons I learned has been at the end of my blog posts. It has given me a catalog that I can reflect on and not forget.
 
Strategies to consider

• Think about the one lesson you have learned in the past four months
• Think about how you would like to apply it moving forward

 
#2: Help someone who is struggling
You might be wondering how helping someone else will help you thrive over the next months. When we help others, it gives us the opportunity to not think about our own situations for a little while. In my experience this helps change our perspective and give us a more positive outlook on our own life experiences. Having a support community where we all help one another has been amazing for me. There is always something small we can do for people around us that will make them happy.
 
Strategies to consider

• Check-in on your family and friends to see how they are doing
• Take on a task to support someone around you

 
#3: Plan and take some time off
Depending on where you live, summertime might be starting. It is a perfect time to take some time off. Especially if you have been working from home and still cannot travel around, it might be difficult to imagine what you can do with some days off. I have been reminding myself of the benefits of taking some time off to do things that I have been wanting to do. Taking time off will help you recharge, get things done and create space in your mind for some fresh thoughts.
 
Strategies to consider

• Schedule a few days off
• Plan to do something safe and fun

 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with one lesson that I have learned:
Over the past two weekends, I have connected a lot with my family. With most of us living in different cities around the world, we have not had a chance to spend quality time together for a while. I have learned that there are simple ways for us to stay connected and celebrate the important milestones. Setting up video calls and having great conversations has been a highlight for me.
 
Call to Action
What are you going to do for yourself this week? Prioritize your needs and take care of yourself.

Over the weekend, I observed one of the signs of things slowly going back to normal. We now have toilet tissues on the store shelves. The shortage was a visible sign of the impact of the pandemic on our lives. Small positive signs like these give me hope for the future.
 
In this blog post, we will explore three tips to help us transition to the next phase and make the best of the upcoming months.  Check out part 1 and  part 2 of the transition preparation guide.
 
#1: Create an adaptable plan
A plan serves as an orientation guide for decisions and actions that you will be taking over the next months. It might seem impossible to plan anything with all the uncertainty around us. By creating an adaptable plan, you can adjust it as you learn more over the next months. Having a plan will help you ensure you achieve your goals this year. Over the next six months, I am committed to take actions to make this year count.
 
Strategies to consider

• Set some goals for yourself and create a high-level plan to achieve your goals
• Learn and adjust your plan continuously

 
#2: Partner with people who are taking action
When you surround yourself with people who have the right mindset and are taking action, you increase your chances to succeed. There are a lot of great things that we can learn from each other. I am a firm believer that having great companions on our journey is crucial. Sharing ideas and plans with my support community over the past months has been extremely helpful. We act as accountability partners for each other on our quest to succeed in our personal and professional lives.
 
Strategies to consider

• Identify people in your life who can be part of your support community
• Check-in regularly with your support community

 
#3: Leave your worries behind
The past months may have left you feeling helpless and worried about the future. It is a normal reaction given everything that has happened this year. However, to be able to make progress, we will need to adjust our perspective and have a positive outlook.  One of the decisions that I have recently made is to continue my journey this year without fear. I am being cautious and taking the necessary safety precautions. However, I am not allowing fear to stop me from envisioning a great future and taking actions to make them a reality.
 
Strategies to consider

• Identify what you are afraid of
• Do not let your fears stop you

 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with one lesson that I have learned:
This week I was reminded of the importance of taking care of ourselves. Although I am working from home, I realized that I still need to pace myself and take vacation days. The excitement that came with scheduling my first vacation was unexpected. I know that I need to take a break and rejuvenate.
 
Call to Action
What fun things are you going to do this week?

Seeing more things reopen and conversations moving forward after the pandemic is exciting. I am immensely proud of how we are all adapting to the new normal and learning as we go.
 
In this blog post, we will explore three tips to help us transition to the next phase and make the best of the upcoming months.  Check out part 1 or the transition preparation guide  for more tips and ideas.
 
#1: Learn new skills to thrive in these times
With all the changes we have experienced over the last months, there are new skills that we need to learn. For some of us, we have had to learn how to work remotely, manage our households more efficiently, communicate differently with our families or being teachers for our kids. To thrive during the next phase, it is crucial to have an open mind and seek out resources that will help you learn the skills that you are missing. I have been learning more about using tools to simplify my life and stay on top of everything I need to do.
 
Strategies to consider

• Gather resources to help gain new skills
• Learn from others who know more about what you are trying to learn

 
#2: Practice being patient and resilient
As we transition to the next phase this year, we will need to practice personal strength in many areas. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by all the change happening. Being patient with yourself and the situations you experience over the next months will help you thrive. For some of us, being patient does not come naturally so we need to be intentional and make an effort. I know that with patience and resilience I will weather any unexpected situation that I will face.
 
Strategies to consider

• Remind yourself that things are changing, and you have what it takes to survive
• Celebrate your successes and wins 

 
#3: Learn new things about yourself and people around you
When we go through changes, we also change. Facing new situations brings out new things in us as well as our family and friends. Over the past three months, I have learned more about what is important to me and what makes me happy. I am now more aware and accepting of how I am changing through this new phase.
 
Strategies to consider

• Spend some quality time with yourself
• Ask questions and learn more about people you care about

 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with one lesson that I have learned:
It is quite easy to feel saddened and demotivated by everything going on in the world. I have been reminded of the importance of being optimistic and having a positive outlook on life. When I think about my future, I am hopeful and excited for what is to come.
 
Call to Action
What skills can you learn to help you thrive during the next months?

Over the last three months, I have been writing blog posts sharing tips on how to survive through quarantine and the current situation around us. As things begin to slowly shift, I thought it is a great time for us to begin our mental preparation for the next phase. This is a time of transition from the most unexpected situation we have all faced to the new normal.
 
In this blog post, we will explore three tips to help us transition to the next phase and make the best of the upcoming months.
 
#1: Allow yourself to start thinking about the next phase
To be able to kick-off the next phase in our lives, we need to give ourselves the permission to think about the future. Although the last months have brought unexpected surprises, there are still many opportunities for us to experience good things this year. This is the perfect time to reflect on what we have learnt and start envisioning the future.
 
Strategies to consider

• Start keeping a list of things you want and need to do
• Keep track of when you can take action

 
#2: Set expectations but prepare to learn and adjust
While we anticipate what comes next, it is important to be hopeful and not fearful. We might be more inclined to temper our feelings of hope and excitement in order not to be disappointed. A source of motivation for us is being positive about the future. While we are being hopeful about the future, it is also important for us to prepare to pivot and do things differently if we are presented with unexpected situations.
 
Strategies to consider

• Think about what you are excited about
• Prepare mentally to adapt when things change

 
#3: Accept that things are not going back to normal and will be different
Over the next months, we will experience life differently. The events of the last three months have left us all hoping for things to go back to the way that they were before. However, from all indications, things are going to be different over the next months. Accepting the new reality will help us be more successful. We can invest more energy in adapting to the new normal than desiring what we had before.
 
Strategies to consider

• Acknowledge that things have changed in your life
• Celebrate the new normal

 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with one lesson that I have learned:
Over that last weeks I have realized that although planning is crucial, what really matters is how I adapt when my plans change. I have a lot of peace now that I am adapting to the recent changes instead of trying to push through my plans for 2020. I am also accepting that no amount of planning could have prepared me for our current situation.
 
Call to Action
What are you looking forward to the most over the next 6 months?