One of the things parents work hard at is helping kids through transitions. From bedtime to bath time, screen time to dinner—those shifts are rarely easy. Even fun changes, like getting ready for a birthday party, can lead to resistance. Kids don’t always know how to stop one thing and start another. So parents step in with routines, countdowns, or gentle nudges to help them pivot. They understand that the resistance isn’t always really about what’s next but can be about having to let go of what’s happening now.
As an adult, I can really relate. Transitions can throw me off more than I’d like to admit. I’ve found myself resisting bedtime even when I’m exhausted, just because I’m enjoying whatever I’m doing. But I’ve also resisted going on a bike ride—even though I know I’ll enjoy it once I’m out there. I’ve dragged my feet getting ready to see a friend, even though I’ve been looking forward to it all week.
What I’ve realized is: it’s not the activity that’s the problem. It’s the switch. That moment where I have to stop one thing and start another. Something about it messes with my rhythm.
To help myself with transitions, I needed to find tools for that discomfort. Otherwise, I’d avoid them, complain, or procrastinate until the last possible second (and beyond). Over time, I’ve started to recognize it for what it is—a normal kind of resistance that can be softened with the right kind of support.
One thing that helps? Adding the words “for now.”
I’ll tell myself, I’m putting this work down—for now. I’m stepping away from this project—for now.
It gives my mind a gentle landing instead of a hard stop. It reminds me I can return if I need to. I’m not abandoning anything—I’m just shifting.
Another tool that’s helped is action before overthinking. Sometimes the best thing I can do is simply stand up, change rooms, or take one physical step into the next thing before I talk myself out of it.
Transitions aren’t always smooth. But I’m learning to guide myself through them the way a parent might guide a child—gently, with cues, with patience.
Because maybe we never outgrow the need for a little help with transitions. And maybe part of becoming a more grounded adult is learning how to offer that help to ourselves.
ACTION: Pick one transition you know is coming today that you might have a hard time with—ending work, starting a task, heading to bed—and plan how you’ll support yourself through it. Use the words “for now” to soften the shift, ask someone to hold you accountable, or choose one small physical step to help you move forward. A little preparation now can make the moment smoother later.
