Coaching is all about change. After working with hundreds of clients, I’ve noticed patterns in how people successfully create positive shifts in their lives. Different approaches work for different situations and personalities. Which one might fit your current desires and circumstances?

The Blank Slate. Research shows that changing your location or routine can make it easier to break old habits and start new ones. “Blank Slate” situations like a new job, a move, or joining a new team, provide an opportunity to reflect on what you want to leave behind and what you want to keep as you navigate your new beginning. For example, someone moving into a new role with a new team might consider what changes they will put into place with this fresh start — what boundaries are important to them, how they will manage their time and energy well, and the guidelines they will use to make intentional choices about what they says yes to in the role.

The Vacuum. This approach involves deliberately reducing or eliminating something in your routine, creating a “vacuum” that new, often healthier activities naturally fill. I’m currently experimenting with this by reducing solo media consumption for 109 days. As screen time decreases, I’ve found that reading, socializing, and playing with my pup have all naturally expanded to fill the empty space. This is a fun one if you like experimenting and working with curiosity and open-ended exploration. Choose what you want less of, then see what the vacuum brings in its place.

The Ripple Effect. When feeling overwhelmed by multiple desired changes, focus on just one area. Like throwing a single stone into a still pond, the deep impact in one place will ripple effect into other areas. For example, someone feeling exhausted who wants better work-life balance might be contemplating boundaries at work, improved sleep, regular exercise, healthier eating, and more social time. By focusing solely on creating a habit of 30 minutes of daily movement, they’ll likely see improvements in sleep, diet, and energy levels for socializing. Rather than staying stuck in overwhelm, start with one intentional “stone” and notice how it ripple-effects into other areas.

The One-Eighty. A serious diagnosis, significant loss, or other life-altering event can trigger what I call a One-Eighty change. These can give us a big enough “why” to push through the typical resistance we encounter in the change process. My grandma, upon her diagnosis of emphysema, quit her pack-a-day smoking habit cold turkey and never touched another cigarette. While we don’t need to wait for crisis to make changes, these pivotal moments can spark remarkable transformations.

The 1% Curve. At the opposite end of the spectrum, gradual transformation often creates the most sustainable change. Rather than attempting dramatic overhauls, we break goals into extremely doable micro-steps. As James Clear states in Atomic Habits “If you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done…Success is the product of daily habits — not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.” Instead of expecting ourselves to go from the couch potato to a gym rat overnight, we can start with five minutes of stretching before bed and build from there.

The Life Experiment. This might be my favorite approach. Take the pressure off, my friend. Consider what you are curious about, what change you might want to play with, and give yourself a time-bound commitment to try it on. This could be 30 days of no TV, two weeks of daily journaling, or 21 days of after-dinner walks. Set a goal (it can be audacious if it’s short-term), set your timeline, strengthen your commitment by sharing it with others, and then see how it unfolds! Whatever results you get become useful data to inform your next steps.

Change comes in many different forms, and there’s no single “right way” to make it happen. The most effective approach is the one that aligns with your personality, circumstances, and the specific change you’re seeking.

What change are you currently considering? Which of these paths resonates with you right now?

I aim to provide compassionate and practical guidance. Submit below if you’d like my perspective on your question or circumstance in a future column.

Tiffany Skidmore is a mental health and life coach who specializes in life transitions and anxiety. Email your questions and feedback to tiffanyskidmore.com">tiffany@tiffanyskidmore.com or submit them anonymously at tinyurl.com/thelifecoach. Visit tiffanyskidmore.com to learn more.