Transition Rituals

Overview

You leave the office at 5:30, but mentally you are still there at 7:00. You have changed locations but not states.

Definition

Transition Rituals are behaviors performed in the 'Third Space' to signal the brain to close the Work file and open the Home file.

The Science

Autonomic Switch

Without a conscious signal, the brain remains in 'defense mode' (sympathetic), interpreting home interactions as threats.

The Practice

The Doorway Drill

1. Reflect: Acknowledge one win, one loss.
2. Reset: Touch a physical trigger (door handle).
3. Intention: Who do I want to be inside?
4. Enter.

Common Pitfalls

• Listening to intense news on the commute.
• Walking in 'hot' with anger.

Key Takeaway

It's not the stress of the job, it's the lack of recovery between the job and life.