10 Ways to Stop Feeling Stuck in Life and Move On

Feeling stuck in life is something that happens to us all. When your job, relationship, or daily routine feel unfulfilling, it is easy to end up in a slump without a sense of direction.

Being stuck in your life can impact your motivation and keep you from pursuing what you’ve always wanted for your life. But the good news is that you can make positive change in your life to become unstuck.

I have put together this list of 10 ways to stop feeling stuck in life so that you can start living a life of passion and pursuit of exciting new opportunities!

Why Do You Feel Stuck in Life?

Life is full of challenges and struggles that work really hard to keep us stuck in place. Sometimes our setbacks get the better of us and we end up struggling to get back up again.

When this happens, new things feel scary and the fear of change keeps us longing for the safety of our comfort zones. And while this might not sound like a bad thing, too much time in comfort can lead to serious feelings of anxiety and depression.

But don’t worry – you aren’t alone, and you can get yourself unstuck! 

The first step to getting yourself unstuck is to understand why you feel stuck in life in the first place. To help you with this, I have put together a list of common reasons that people feel stuck in life. If you can relate to some of these, you are on the right track to becoming unstuck!

You Feel Overwhelmed or Burnt Out

If you are feeling stuck in your life, there is a chance that it is because you are overwhelmed by a recent or current situation. 

A major change in your personal life can trigger feelings of being stuck, particularly when these changes are out of your control. When we can’t see the end of the tunnel, it is common to feel overwhelmed, stuck, and unsure of what to do next.

It is also common for people who balance a demanding professional life to feel burnt out by the pressures of maintaining a hectic daily routine.

You are Ready for Drastic Change

As you move throughout your life, it is normal for your goals and dreams to evolve. Your experiences will naturally shape you and push you to grow outside your comfort zone. And this creates a need for change.

If you have been stuck in an unfulfilling job, relationship, or general situation for some time, there is a good chance you are ready for drastic changes.

And this doesn’t mean that you need a new job or need to leave your partner. It just means that you are ready for a challenge to pull you out of that stuck feeling and onto the next stage of your life.

The Fear of the Unknown/Fear of Change

One of the most powerful negative feelings people experience is the fear of the unknown and the fear of change. It is normal to want to have control of your life. After all, change disrupts the comfortable routines that we work so hard to build!

But the truth is that when you resist change you end up hindering your own personal growth. The personal development that you go through when you embrace change opens doors to new experiences and opportunities that can lead to a more fulfilling life!

The Fear of Failure

If you have experienced a painful failure in the past it can be enough to keep you from ever wanting to try new things again. But if you are feeling stuck in life, reflecting on your failures to find growth is the best thing you can do to conquer your fear of the unknown and fear of change.

The Fear of Judgement

Judgement from other people is another reason many people end up feeling stuck in life.

It is natural to want to seek the approval of your social circle and family members. But when you place too much value on the opinions of others, even when they are the right people, it can be hard to feel motivated to work toward your life goals. This is especially true if they disagree with your decisions or are critical of your choices.

Your Values are Being Challenged

We all have a moral compass that guides us and motivates us. The values that we hold are what shape our decisions and dictate our personal goals.

The pressures of day-to-day life can challenge these values. This can make us question whether we are on the right track with our lives. Over time, living a life that isn’t true to your authentic self can be draining and lead to the feeling of being stuck in your life.

The Fear of Losing Something

Another one of the main reasons that people don’t make a change is because they think they will have to give something up that they already have. Whether it is the comforts of a job or a relationship, people tend to think change means sacrifice.

But the good news is that it is possible to hang onto the things you love about your life while also making a positive change. Prioritizing the important things and working the rest of your life around them is an effective way to make changes that will get you unstuck.

Your Purpose is Unclear to You

Do you know what your purpose in life is? Or do you feel like you are going about everyday life feeling as if your actions have no meaning?

You aren’t alone if you haven’t discovered your purpose yet. In fact, many people spend most of their lives searching for a sense of purpose and meaning.

When you have a sense of purpose and meaning in your life, your decisions and actions feel as though they carry weight. If you are feeling stuck in life, it may be because you haven’t discovered your life’s purpose, or you need to spend some time rediscovering yourself.

Check out our collection of self-help books on purpose for our favorite resources on finding meaning in your life.

Your Relationships Are Draining You

As a recovering people pleaser, this is something that I struggled with a lot in my early years of adulthood.

Many of my closest friends and family members were very negative people that were draining me of positive energy. My connection to these people and my desire to love and support them was making me feel stuck.

Setting clear boundaries in my relationships really helped me get back the energy I needed to get myself out of a rut.

You Struggle with Making Major Decisions

It might sound overly simplistic, but you could be stuck in life because you are someone who struggles with decision making.

When you are faced with a major change, do you jump right in? Or do you prefer to spend a long time considering all of the different angles?

Many people find weighing the pros and cons of a decision to help. However, when both sides of the decision are balanced, you may feel like you are stuck in a vicious cycle of indecision with no good starting point.

You Have Negative Thoughts About the Future

Depending on your life’s circumstances, you could have a positive or negative outlook on the future. And how you feel about the future has the power to dictate what you do next with your life.

If you are experiencing overly negative thoughts about your life and your future, this could be a sign of deeper mental health issues and you should consult a professional.

10 Ways to Stop Feeling Stuck in Life

Now that you have an idea of why you might be feeling stuck in life, the next step is to get yourself unstuck. There are a few easy things that you can do to change your current situation.

#1. Set Goals

One reason that we can feel stuck in life is because we are missing a sense of purpose. Setting clear goals is a great way to drive youself forward toward something meaningful for your life.

Take some time to reflect on what your goals are for your life. Identify the things in life that set your soul on fire. These are the small things that make you want to jump out of bed in the morning.

Choose one goal that is important to you and what you value and start working toward it in small ways. Before long, you will start to see the feeling of being stuck in your life fading away.

If you need inspiration, check out our collection of goals and dreams examples!

#2. Find Your Passion

If you are feeling stuck in your life, the chances are that you may be lacking passion in your life.

Making time for your passions is a great way to pull yourself out of a rut. Life can be busy and overwhelming. But your passions have the power to help you escape from your daily routine in a healthy way.

Find a new hobby or a new project that allows you to be creative and express yourself and your frustrations. If you can find a way to work it into your daily routine it won’t be long before you no longer feel stuck in your life!

#3. Change Your Mindset

Sometimes the feeling of being stuck in life is just that – a feeling. But feelings are often temporary and can be misleading.

When we listen to our negative inner voice and our own negative thinking too often, it becomes a part of our mindset.

You can accomplish great things by making small changes to your mindset and using a new perspective.

One of the best ways to make major changes to your mindset is by using positive affirmations. Choose your favorite positive affirmations and start telling yourself something positive about your life and your circumstances.

When you use affirmations that begin with “I am”, your mind starts to believe that the things you are saying are already happening!

#4. Say Goodbye to Your Comfort Zone

One of the main reasons people end up stuck in life is because they choose to stay in their comfort zone.

We all want to feel safe and secure in our jobs and relationships. But growth happens most when we challenge ourselves to welcome new experiences.

Try meeting new people that challenge you to step outside of your routines. If you aren’t being challenged in your work, consider looking for the next step in your career path that will lead you toward growth.

If you need more inspiration to say goodbye to your comfort zone, check out our collection of comfort zone quotes!

#5. Surround Yourself with Positive People

The people that we spend the most time with act as support groups that keep us from getting stuck.

Think about the people closest to you. Do your family members and best friend challenge you to become the best version of yourself? Do they support your goals and dreams?

When you spend so much time with people who are stuck in their lives, it keeps you stuck in your own. When it comes to reaching goals, the most successful people are the ones who surround themselves with people who push them toward greater things.

Sometimes it just takes a different perspective from a good friend to pull us out of a rut and push us up to the next level.

#6. Conquer Your Own Limiting Beliefs

Your limiting beliefs are the stories you tell yourself that keep you stuck where you are. Often times, limiting beliefs sound like excuses about why you can’t make changes in your life.

A common limiting belief that I hear often in my life coaching is that people don’t think they have time for things. But the reality is we can always choose to make time for the things that are important to us.

Take some time to wrestle with these beliefs until you can see past the lies and focus on the truths that will pull you out of your rut.

#7. Get Moving!

Life is busy and it can be hard to make time for exercise. But the truth is it doesn’t take much to use exercise to get yourself unstuck in your life.

A recent study has shown that even just 15 minutes of exercise a day can reduce symptoms of depression and improve your emotional health and physical health.

As part of your morning routine or the next time you find yourself sitting on the couch watching TV shows, get up and do a few laps around the room. Take note of how it feels to have positive chemicals flowing through your body. Use that feeling to beat the feeling of being stuck!

#8. Practice Gratitude

Sometimes the feeling of being stuck comes from the belief that there is nothing good happening in our lives.

Focusing your thoughts on the present moment and intentionally feeling grateful for the little things is one effective way to see all the great things that you have!

I understand how hard this can be when you are feeling stuck! Check out our gratitude ideas list if you need some inspiration!

#9. Track Your Habits

Another reason people end up stuck in their life is because of bad habits that they develop. 

One of the worst habits I used to have was wasting time watching TV shows in the evening. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with taking a night off to enjoy a show. But when you spend 3 hours per night watching TV 7 days per week, you’re wasting almost an entire day of your life!

A good thing to kick your bad habits is a habit tracker. In my home, we all have our own habit trackers that we use throughout the month. 

My habit tracker helps me exercise regularly, write in my gratitude journal, and eat healthy meals! 

Check out our collection of printable habit trackers and watch as your good habits pull you out of a slump! If you need inspiration, check out our list of habit tracker ideas!

#10. Take Small Steps Forward

It can be hard to find the motivation to get started when you are feeling stuck in life. Try to focus your efforts on the easiest thing that you can do as a first step. 

Even if it is just the act of getting up off the couch! Focus on how it feels to intentionally take a step forward toward getting unstuck. Then, follow it up with another small step forward.

Saying Goodbye to the Feeling of Stuck in Life

Life is full of routines and predictability, failures and setbacks, and fear and uncertainty. All of these factors can lead to feeling stuck in life.

But remember that your life can also be exciting, unpredictable, and full of life lessons! Every day has the potential to be something fresh and exciting if you let it.

If you are feeling stuck in life, spend some time digging for the root cause of your feelings. Use the common reasons from this list to pinpoint what is causing you to feel stuck. Then, take action using the ten steps I have shared here!

Remember that to truly beat the feeling of being stuck in your life, you need to actually want to get unstuck. Nothing will help you if you are not willing to change the way you think. 

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family on social media! If someone you know is feeling stuck in life, this could be the motivation they need to make a change!

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