Get Psyched!
Dr. Michelle Joshua

Re-entry Problems? Call upon your Inner Astronaut

Re-entry is the process of coming back into the Earth’s atmosphere, after a period being in another one. The transition requires the proper adjustment of a spacecraft to a new environment, else the consequences could be fatal. For astronauts, it is a stressful time that demands the precise execution of a plan.

Luckily, the re-entry problems I am referring to have much milder consequences. Just like astronauts, we all have to re-adjust after a situational change in our lives.  Consider the feeling of going back to work after a wonderful vacation, or the idea of starting on a healthy diet or exercise plan after taking several days “off” from your typical routine. For most of us, re-entry conjures up images and feelings of sadness, lethargy, de-motivation, or stress. At times, re-entry can lead to a period of low productivity or make us feel like we are not working towards our goals.

The good news here is that re-entry problems are not fatal, and can actually be a good wake-up call to stimulate new change. For an astronaut to successfully navigate re-entry, he/she needs to follow a plan. We non-astronauts can follow this wisdom and successfully mitigate transition concerns with our own plan. All it takes is a little self-awareness, a non-judgmental attitude, a positive mindset, and belief in yourself.

The first step in navigating re-entry requires forethought and self-awareness. Think about previous situations in which you have had to re-adjust to an environment or situation, after an absence of some time. What happened? How did you feel? What needed to change for you to get back in the swing of things and re-adjust? If this was a less than optimal time for you, pondering these questions may help to thwart similar transitions and decrease the likelihood of a repeat performance.

All the while, it is important to keep your mood up. Let’s face it – returning home after a fun trip may have a downside or two. What is important to keep in mind is that this potentially anticlimactic or let-down feeling is a fairly typical reaction. Step two in navigating this process is to validate, for yourself, that you are having a relatively normal human experience. This step is crucial to avoid any guilt or self-loathing that could have occurred in the past as a result of your transition difficulties.

Also crucial to a successful re-entry experience is the necessity of a positive mindset and a belief in oneself. People who are positive thinkers are optimistic and see their concerns as temporary and specific to the situation at hand. In the case of a return to a diet and exercise program, the positive thinker will acknowledge that the transition period, though challenging, will be temporary, and can be successfully navigated.

Dr. Michelle Joshua is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Consultant, AASP. Work It Out & Carolina Performance are her sport and exercise psychology practices aimed at helping adolescents and adults, from non-exercisers to elite athletes, achieve their next goal. For more information on how you can adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors, contact Dr. Joshua at www.workitoutconsulting.com (919.990.BFIT) or www.carolinaperformance.net (919.676.9699 x5).