Transitions are inevitable. We have to switch between tasks, get out the door, etc. But people handle them in very different ways.
In this week’s episode of Best of Both Worlds — which Sarah and I recorded together in Ft. Lauderdale last week! — we discuss all things transitions. We suggest a personality framework for folks who easily transition between things, with an added axis of how bothered you are by task switching (you can switch easily between things but still find interruptions really annoying!). We discuss ways to make swifter transitions when that is necessary. Knowing that they will happen and building in some time for them is wise, as is making sure that what you need is where you need it (one reason shoes and coats never leave our mudroom!). As always, planning tends to be helpful.
We also do a quick discussion of life transitions — I don’t have much changing right now, but Sarah has shifted up her job a fair amount in the last six months. We discuss her latest project, a Best Laid Plans Live conference in November!
Please give the episode a listen and, as always, we appreciate ratings and reviews.
In other news: Best of Both Worlds has a thriving Patreon community where we discuss issues of work and family in a more private space. Membership is $9/month. Please come join us!
This was a fun topic & I loved the ep! I think I fall in the quadrant of not loving transitions and being slow. I’m mostly okay with enjoying the pace versus getting more done. One question I do have, is when do you get time to yourself? I spend much of the workday in meetings, and tend to like a slower morning, simply to have time to myself. I seem to have a higher need for this than some moms I know (or what was feasible when I had very young children!).
@Amanda – I definitely need solo time and feel crabby without it. But I work for myself from home so I can often arrange for long stretches of quiet time (albeit working time) if I so choose. I think this is sometimes an introvert/extrovert thing. Kids are people and some of us get a little antsy with people around all the time.
For the mom of the crying toddler at drop-off, just wanted to say that our kids have been in daycare since they were 20 weeks but both cried/cry at drop off when they were toddlers. Our older son is 5 and I think it got better when he was around 3. Our youngest is 2 and drop offs started to be rough when he turned 2 3 months ago. We are assured that it is brief and he recovers quickly. And he is always happy at pick up. So try not to let it bother you although that is easier said than done for many moms. Our oldest is a really sensitive kiddo and I wondered if he would ever not cry at drop off but now he never cried and some days he tells us that he wants to stay longer or will tell me to go get little brother first because he doesn’t want to leave! So long comment short: this, too, shall pass.
@Lisa – very wise! Yep, it takes a long time sometimes but we tend not to be dealing with the same issues a few years on.