How to Cope with Uncertainty: 12 Solid Strategies for Thriving Through Life Transitions

A Roadmap to Resilience

Life transitions, or life quakes, as I like to call them, that mental rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for, but here you are, buckled in, white-knuckling it like you’re on the world’s most terrifying ride.

Ah, life quakes. Those delightful times when everything’s up in the air, and you’re left wondering if someone accidentally hit the “reshuffle” button of your life. Whether you’re changing jobs, moving cities, starting (or ending) a relationship, or just navigating that lovely quarter-life/midlife/three-quarters-life crisis, transitions can feel like you’re juggling swords while riding a unicycle. Blindfolded.

Don’t panic – you’re not just going to survive this—you’re going to rock it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Identify and Accept Your Emotions

First things first: feel all the feelings. You can’t handle what you don’t acknowledge, so if you’re a cocktail of anxiety, excitement, and stress right now, that’s okay. Name your emotions. Are you feeling confused? Scared? Or just really, really angry? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Identify those emotions and let ’em out. You’re allowed to ugly cry or yell into a pillow—just get that emotional buildup out of your system. Think of it as clearing out the mental junk drawer so you can find your way through this.

Once you’ve figured it out, do something kind for yourself. A bubble bath, binge-watching your favourite show, listening to that playlist that makes you feel like the main character—you do you. It’s about making sure your emotions don’t turn into an emotional volcano that erupts at the worst possible moment, like mid-Zoom meeting.

Step 2: Focus on What You Can Control

Life’s going haywire, but you know what? You’re still in control of your own actions. Sure, you can’t control the economy, your boss’s mood swings, or the fact that your favourite jeans shrank (blame the dryer), but you can control how you react to the chaos.

You definitely can control whether or not you eat the entire pizza.

Create little routines and focus on daily wins: organizing your desk, cooking yourself a nice meal, or finally unfollowing that person who gives you FOMO every time they post a vacation pic. These small acts of control help ground you when everything else feels like it’s spinning out of control. It’s the small wins that matter right now.

Step 3: Adopt a Flexible Mindset

A life quake is basically a plot twist you didn’t ask for, so roll with it. Stay open to change and adapt, like a ninja. A really chill ninja. When things don’t go as planned—and spoiler alert: they won’t—don’t let it send you tumbling into oblivion. You need to roll with the punches. Got rejected from your dream job? Maybe it’s time to start that side hustle. Apartment fell through? Maybe there’s a better one around the corner. Life’s twists and turns aren’t dead ends; they’re detours.

Step 4: Stop Reminiscing and Ruminating

Here’s the thing: playing the “What If” game or starring in a mental rerun of “My Past Life Was Perfect” doesn’t help. It’s like binge-watching a series you’ve already seen—predictable and not all that entertaining the second time around.

Let go of the past. Yes, I know that’s easier said than done but obsessing over what was keeps you from seeing what could be. Instead of mourning the “good old days,” look at what’s happening right now. Focus on building the new and exciting instead of desperately missing what’s already far behind you.

So no more replays of “The Greatest Hits of My Mistakes” or that highlight reel of “What I should have done instead.” The past? It’s long gone. Focus on the here and now—this is where the magic happens.

Step 5: Seek Support

It’s time to phone a friend. (Cue: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire soundtrack.) You don’t have to go through this crazy quake on your own. Whether it’s your best friend, your mom, or your therapist—connect with your people. These are the ones who will remind you you’re not going nuts, you’re just evolving.

Sometimes you just need a pep talk, a good cry, or a night of takeout and trash TV. And if your support system can’t physically be there, there’s always FaceTime, Zoom, or just old-fashioned venting via long texts/phone calls.

Even if you’re an introvert like me, even if you HATE asking for help, reach out. Call your squad, vent, laugh, cry—just don’t do this alone. Everyone needs their “people,” even if it’s just your pet looking at you like you’ve officially lost it.

Step 6: Be Mindful

Do you know what’s harder than it looks? Staying present. Most of us are either worrying about the future or obsessing about the past during lifequakes, forgetting that life’s happening right now. The antidote? Mindfulness.

And no, you don’t have to meditate for hours on a remote mountaintop. It’s as simple as taking five deep breaths when you’re stressed or noticing the brilliant blue colour of the sky when you’re on a walk. Mindfulness is about slowing down and being aware of the little things – which are actually the big things. Mindfulness isn’t reserved for gurus or monks. It’s just about slowing down and being present. Right here, right now.

Step 7: Rest

Repeat after me: Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Yet somehow, we only succumb to sleep when we’re completely wiped out. In times of transition, rest is your best friend. You can’t solve problems when you’re running on empty.

So, give yourself permission to take that nap, close the laptop, and say “no” to that 5th Zoom call of the day. Rest is what recharges you to face the uncertainties ahead. the last time you took a nap that wasn’t immediately followed by guilt? Exactly. Rest is productive. Your brain and body need time to recharge, so give them a break.

Step 8: Invest in Yourself

While you’re waiting for life to settle down again, why not use the time to level up? Who’s the best project you’ll ever work on? You. Take a course, pick up a new skill, or even just binge-read articles on things you’re curious about. Make future-you proud of present-you.

Investing in yourself—whether it’s personal development, self-care, or education—is the best use of your time. Because you’re the one constant in this sticky mess, and the better you feel about yourself, the easier it is to navigate the chaos.

Step 9: Wait Actively

Waiting sucks. I know. Waiting doesn’t have to mean sitting around twiddling your thumbs, hoping for a sign from the universe. It’s about doing what you can while you wait. The trick is to keep moving forward, even if it feels like baby steps.

While you are waiting—whether it’s for a job offer, a decision, or clarity—stay engaged. Read, learn, take care of yourself. You’re building momentum, even when it feels like nothing’s happening. Do something productive – pick up a new hobby, declutter your life, or become a pro at solving crossword puzzles. Waiting doesn’t have to be wasted.

Step 10: Be Grateful

Gratitude is the secret sauce to staying sane when life’s unpredictable.

Okay, I know—gratitude is the advice everyone throws around, but hear me out. There’s science behind it: expressing gratitude actually shifts your brain’s focus from what’s wrong to what’s right.

So, even when life is throwing curveballs, there’s always something to be grateful for, no matter how small. Start with the basics: You’ve got a roof over your head. Your Wi-Fi’s working (most of the time). You’ve got access to memes that make you laugh. It all counts.

Step 11: Help Others

Want to stop stressing about your own life for a second? Help someone else. There’s something about lifting others that lightens your own load. Plus, it reminds you that we’re all struggling in our own ways.

It can be as simple as listening to a friend who’s also having a rough time or helping a stranger carry their groceries. Being there for someone else creates a ripple effect—and you might just find that helping them helps you too.

Sometimes, the best way to get out of your own head is to help someone else with their stuff.

Step 12: Find Meaning

Ah, the existential conundrum. Life quakes often force us to rethink what really matters. When life throws you curveballs, it’s tempting to throw a tantrum right back. Instead, ask yourself “What’s this change trying to tell me?”

Maybe it’s showing you that you’re stronger than you thought. Or that you’re ready for something new. Or that life’s too short to sweat the small stuff. Meaning doesn’t have to be profound—it just has to make sense to you.

Life transitions can be messy, but you can navigate them with a little help from your friends, a lot of patience, and maybe a nap or two.

Wrapping It Up

So—life transitions can be a wild ride. But with these 12 strategies, you’ll get through it, one (sometimes messy) step at a time. Don’t forget: It’s okay to feel all the feelings, stumble through the uncertainty, and laugh at how absurd it all seems sometimes.

Because no matter what life throws at you, you’ve got this. And if all else fails? There’s always pizza. And chocolate. And my personal favourite: Scottish butter tablet. 😉