As people, we all go through periods in which our motivation is low, and our self-esteem takes a hit. That’s a natural part of life’s ups and downs. What’s important isn’t that you’re in a low place, feeling stuck or in a rut, but that you can work your way out of it by seizing the initiative. You can do this in small and manageable steps, too, so nothing’s too daunting or difficult. Here’s how you’ll do it in four simple steps.
Understanding
When you’re feeling stuck, it can be disorientating. You might be wondering why you’re feeling so demotivated or why you have the sense that you’ve lost momentum in your life. Now, this isn’t the time for long, dark nights of the soul, as you deeply examine everything and anything that might have gone off-track in your life. Instead, you should try to pinpoint what it is that makes you feel like you’re not moving – whether that’s your career, your personal life, or your finances. Giving some sense to your feelings will help you feel confident in the steps you subsequently take to tackle your malaise.
Planning
Next up, you should make some form of plan. Keep it flexible if you like – there’s no need to stick to a year-long plan with several milestones mapped out, as you cannot predict what might end up interrupting your progress. Instead, set an achievable goal. If you’re looking to improve your fitness, set some exercise goals. If you want to boost your company’s performance, set a sales target. These plans might seem abstract for the moment, but they’re going to be your guiding light, your North Star, for the coming months.
Support
Now that you understand what’s making you feel stuck and you’re also aware of what you might be able to do to unstick yourself, it’s time to look for the support that’ll help you get there. This will differ depending on who you are, what your network looks like, and what your underlying problem might be. If you want to develop a business or your career, working alongside an Executive Coach will help you get the support you need. For fitness goals, a personal trainer will be essential. Throughout, the support and love of your friends and family will help you overcome challenges and hurdles that could otherwise destabilize you.
Celebration
Something you might have noticed about feeling low is that you’ll become more self-critical and less willing to look at the positives of what you’ve achieved. The final step in this short guide, then, is to make a conscious effort to celebrate even the tiniest amount of progress towards your goal. Journaling can help you get there, making notes each day and looking back to where you came from for context about how far you’ve come to date. You should also celebrate any milestone you reach to reinforce your motivation and to make yourself proud of your achievements to date.
Feeling stuck is unpleasant and demotivating, but there are ways to address that feeling, including the steps outlined in this short guide.
