How to Get Unstuck in Life

We all go through periods of feeling stuck in our lives.

But the problem with feeling stuck is that it’s not clear how to get unstuck. So we continue with patterns and choices that are holding us back without knowing what to do.

As an anxiety therapist, I often help my clients get unstuck. Below, I list the top ways of getting unstuck in your life.

How to get unstuck in life: 8 ways

It’s not easy, but there are tangible things that you can do to change your life. From assessing your priorities to trying new things, I go through my top eight ways of how you can get unstuck in your life.

Examine your life

You might be feeling stuck because you’re not sure about your purpose or what you want.

In times like these, it’s important to examine our lives closely. Ask yourself a few questions:

1. What makes me happy? Is that thing sustainable?
2. How are my relationships? Do any of them hold me back?
3. How do I feel about my occupation? Are there other careers or positions that would suit me better?
4. What stresses me out? Can I do anything about those things?
5. What do I want? What are a few ideas that excite me?

These are big, tough questions.

It might be helpful to discuss these with a friend or family member. If you do, keep in mind that others tend to project on us. If your friend is obsessed with self-improvement, they might suggest things that you’re not ready for. If another friend also feels stuck, they might unconsciously try to hold you back, so you stay on their level.

Assess your priorities

We don’t always think about our priorities; they’re often so ingrained that we aren’t aware of them.

Maybe your priority has been your family. Family is important, but are you neglecting your ambitions in the process? Maybe your dating life has been a priority, but it’s not going well. Shifting focus by taking time to take care of yourself might bring necessary clarity.

When we feel off, something is likely out of balance. By assessing our priorities, we can learn which areas of our life need a rejuvenation. This is a great way to get unstuck.

Dream big

We often limit ourselves when imagining what our life could be like.

If you want to get unstuck in life, try thinking the opposite way. Let your imagination run wild and dream big!

Maybe you want your side hustle to become your full-time gig. What if you made six figures doing that? Maybe you want to meet your soulmate tomorrow. What would that look like?

This isn’t meant to make you disappointed if things don’t go exactly as you dreamed. But it should inspire and motivate you to pursue what you want.

Try new things

Getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things helps you get unstuck.

Even if you don’t like what you tried, you learned something and pushed yourself. You can:

1. Try new hobbies
2. Network at events
3. Buy new clothes
4. Cook new recipes
5. Attend conferences
6. Make new friends

And much more.

Getting out of your comfort zone switches up your daily routine and can boost your confidence. You might surprise yourself!

Make lifestyle changes

Sometimes if we don’t feel physically well, we don’t feel great about our lives. Low energy levels can hold us back, leaving us feeling stuck.

Fitness and diet are not the answer to everything. But taking care of yourself and establishing new healthy routines can change your perspective on things.

Joining a gym, taking a fitness class, or going for a jog a few times a week may bolster your energy and inspire you.

Plus, little achievements like getting out of bed early to go on a walk make us feel capable of doing more. If you did that, why can’t you confidently apply for that job or take that drawing class?

Let go of the past

It’s hard to move forward if you can’t stop thinking about the past.

Maybe specific memories or behaviors from your past hold you back from a new phase of your life.

Take time to think about what those might be and how you can move on. Therapy is a great place to do this, but you can try other things too, like:

1. Journaling
2. Meditating
3. Talking with friends

Letting go of your past might not be an issue for you, but looking at how far you’ve come might motivate you!

Make a plan

When you have a sense of where you want to be, make a plan to get there.

Break your goals into mini-goals and mini-goals into tasks! It might feel tedious, but there’s nothing quite like checking off a to-do list.

Maybe making a plan seems overwhelming. When in doubt, live your life like you already have the life you want. If you want to be an active person who sells hand-knit scarves on Etsy, start living like one. What would that person’s day look like? How would they spend their time? What’s their routine like? When you get a sense, live it out.

Get help

Sometimes we need help getting unstuck in life.

Therapists and coaches exist to help people like you understand yourself and live your life to the fullest.

Although you might not feel like you need professional help, it helps a lot. The truth is that we all need a little help sometimes, and there’s no shame in it. If anything, it will speed up your progress.

Sometimes getting unstuck is simple, and other times it’s not. A trained professional knows how to help you get where you want to be, regardless of how complicated the situation is.

Get help getting unstuck

If you want extra support, I’m here to help. I offer online therapy in Idaho and Iowa and coaching services wherever you’re located for anxious clients who struggle with things like people-pleasing, perfectionism, burnout, overwhelm, and ADHD.

Reach out today and see if we’re a good fit. Let’s start building a better future together.