Feeling Stuck? How to Get Unstuck in 7 Tiny, Doable Steps

Let me tell you something upfront: I have felt stuck more times than I can count. It hits me like winter every year. Sometimes it is predictable, almost like clockwork. Sometimes it sneaks up on me when I least expect it, usually when I have convinced myself, “I’m fine, everything’s fine.”

Here is what I want you to know if you are in that stuck place right now: it is normal. It is just a season, and like winter, it will pass.

The Many Faces of Feeling Stuck

For me, this feeling has shown up every time I have moved to a new country, and I have done that twice now. It pops up when I start a new job, launch a new business, or realise that something I have been working on is not going to work, and I need to start over.

Sometimes I feel stuck for a week. Sometimes it stretches into a month, or even a few months. The most important thing I have learned is not to panic when it arrives. The key is to get back up, gently move forward, and remind myself that it is temporary.

Over time, I have built a kind of stuck survival kit, a handful of small steps that help me find my way back to momentum.

Step 1: Declutter, Physically or Mentally

Sometimes I declutter my mind. Sometimes I declutter my house. Right now, for example, I am in the middle of a physical decluttering spree.

Pick a space that is driving you mad, dump everything out onto the bed or floor, and start sorting. Throw away what you do not use, do not need, or do not even like. Keep what matters.

This small action, however imperfect, creates a surprising amount of mental relief. It signals to your brain, “Look, something is moving. We are not frozen in place.”

Step 2: Break the Frustration Loop

When I am stuck, I often spin in circles. I feel frustrated, then anxious, then frustrated again, and before I know it, I am stuck in the loop, replaying the same worries without moving forward.

I ask myself, “What is one small action I can take to remove even a little of this frustration?” It does not have to solve everything. Even decluttering one corner or sending one email can break the loop and remind me that action is possible.

Step 3: Zoom Out to See the Bigger Picture

I struggle with breaking big problems into micro-tasks, but sometimes seeing the bigger picture helps. I ask myself, “What do I want to feel in the long run? What small step today would move me closer to that?”

Step 4: Change Your Environment

When was the last time you felt in sync or in flow? For me, it is often when I am going to the gym regularly. So when I feel stuck, I go back to the gym, even if it is just once or twice. Reconnecting with a routine or space that fuels you can shift your energy and help reset your focus.

Step 5: Avoid the External Validation Trap

I try not to seek too much external input because it leads me into paralysis by analysis. When you ask too many people for opinions, you end up with more noise, not more clarity.

What does help is doing a brain dump with someone I trust, like a coach, a mentor, or my husband. I tell them what I am stuck with, not to get all the answers, but simply to get the weight off my chest. That act alone often helps me see the situation more clearly.

Step 6: Shift Your Self-Talk

Sometimes the biggest trap is the voice in my own head. When I let the narrative become, “Everything is wrong, this is wrong, that is wrong,” I paralyse myself.

Changing the self-talk does not mean pretending everything is fine. It means reminding myself that this moment is temporary, that I am capable, and that one small step can change the momentum.

Step 7: Celebrate Small Wins

I will be honest. I have big goals and dreams, so celebrating tiny wins often feels silly or insignificant. Yet this is one of the most powerful ways to rewire your nervous system, rebuild confidence, and remind yourself that progress is happening.

Even a small success is worth noticing. It teaches your brain to keep going and keeps you anchored in the reality that yes, this is worth it.

Final Thoughts

If you are feeling stuck, do not wait for the perfect wave of motivation or a lightning bolt of clarity. You do not need a complete master plan. You just need one small step, one shift, one little action to create momentum.

Trust me, I have been through this season many times, and it always passes. Let it be imperfect. Let it be messy. Just let yourself move.

Take care,

Lindi

PS: If you want help getting unstuck and need guidance on your next steps, book a free 15-minute session with me. We can figure out what small shifts might open things up for you.

https://stan.store/Lindivanheerden/p/book-a-11-call-with-me-a6x2d7wq

About Lindi van Heerden

Lindi van Heerden is a coach, mentor, and speaker passionate about helping young individuals navigate life’s big questions with courage and confidence. Through her Young and Purposeful – The Clarity Blueprint programme, she empowers young adults to break through self-doubt, take bold action, and create a life they love, even before they have it all figured out.