When Change Doesn’t Feel Like Progress

A few days ago, I was leading a group coaching call and I noticed that some of the participants were visibly demoralised.

They had just been informed of a new company policy requiring all employees living within a 50-mile radius to return to the office five days a week.

I sensed that for many, this wasn’t just a logistical update. It was a seismic shift.

The work-life integration they had carefully built over the years was about to be undone. The implications were immediate and personal; childcare arrangements upended, morning school runs jeopardised, time for physical activity squeezed, and unexpected financial pressure added to the mix.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m a huge advocate of change. Without meaningful change, things become stagnant, evolution is thwarted, and human potential shrinks to fit yesterday’s mould.

But not all change is created equal, and not all of it feels fair.

So how do we deal with the kind of change that radically impacts our daily rhythm, our personal routines, and our sense of balance?

Here are five practical ways to respond:

Name the Loss

Before problem-solving, acknowledge what’s changed and what you’re grieving. Is it time with family? Freedom of choice? Mental clarity during solo walks? Naming it helps you validate your experience rather than suppress it.

Redesign Your Week, Not Just Your Commute

If you're losing 2 hours a day to commuting, can you build in audio learning, guided meditation, or music that uplifts you? Can evening routines shift to include quality time where possible?

Create New Anchors

If the old rhythm is gone, design new rituals. Maybe it’s a shared breakfast before leaving home, a walking meeting at lunchtime, or a short journal entry before bed to close the day intentionally.

Communicate Your Needs Clearly

Speak up about the specific impact: childcare clashes, wellbeing concerns, or productivity dips. Framing it in terms of your ability to perform well may open conversations about flexibility or phased approaches.

Reconnect with Your ‘Why’

When the how changes dramatically, revisit the why. What drew you to this job in the first place? What purpose does it serve in your life? Meaning can soften the impact of disruption.

Change is inevitable, but how we respond to it determines whether it becomes a source of breakdown or breakthrough. When change is imposed rather than chosen, it’s easy to feel powerless, but adaptation is a deeply human strength.

Let’s not forget that.

And if you're navigating something similar, remember, your response doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.

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