How to take action when you feel stuck
Impressive pout.
Feeling stuck is frustrating. You want to move forward, but you’re trapped in overthinking, self-doubt, or plain old indecision. The longer you stay stuck, the harder it feels to break free.
But here’s the good news: you don’t need a perfect plan to start moving. You just need momentum. And momentum doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from taking small, messy, imperfect action.
If you’ve been spinning your wheels, here’s how to get unstuck and start making progress today.
Stop waiting for motivation. Action creates it.
Most people think they need to feel motivated before they can take action. But that’s backward. Action creates motivation, not the other way around. Even tiny steps forward can spark momentum and shift your mindset from "I can’t" to "Okay, maybe I can."
Ever notice how hard it is to start a workout, but once you’re moving, it gets easier? That’s because motion fuels motivation. The same applies to anything, whether it’s writing, job hunting, or tackling a big project.
What to do instead:
Lower the bar. Start with the smallest possible step. Choose something so easy you can’t say no.
Use the 5-second rule. Count down "5-4-3-2-1" and take immediate action before your brain talks you out of it.
Remind yourself: You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to start.
Take action: Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding. Set a timer for 5 minutes and just start. No pressure to finish. Just begin.
Read: Create your dream life: 3 Unconventional steps that actually work
Break big goals into tiny, unintimidating steps
One of the biggest reasons people feel stuck? Their goal feels massive—so big they don’t even know where to start. The fix? Shrink it down.
If someone wants to write a book, sitting down to "write a book" feels impossible. But writing one paragraph? That’s doable. And one paragraph leads to another, and suddenly, they have a page. Progress happens in micro-steps.
What to do instead:
Turn big goals into bite-sized tasks. Ask yourself, "What’s the smallest next step I can take?"
Make the first step ridiculously easy. Instead of "get in shape," start with "do 5 squats."
Stack small wins. Even tiny progress rewires your brain to expect success.
Take action: Think of one goal that feels overwhelming. Now, break it into the smallest step possible. Do that step today.
Get out of your head and into motion
Overthinking is where momentum goes to die. The more you analyze, the more reasons your brain finds to stay put. The best way to break free? Move (physically or mentally).
Research shows that even small movements, like standing up or changing environments, can snap your brain out of a stuck state. Ever noticed how great ideas come to you in the shower or on a walk? That’s because motion fuels clarity.
What to do instead:
Change your physical state. Stand up, stretch, go outside. Movement breaks mental loops.
Change your environment. Work from a different location or rearrange your space. Small shifts reset your focus.
Interrupt overthinking. If your mind is spiraling, say "Stop" out loud and refocus on action.
Take action: Take a 5-minute walk, stretch, or change your surroundings right now. Notice how it shifts your mindset.
Jenga always gives me anxiety. Anyone else? No? Just me? Ok.
Set a "fail goal" to remove the pressure
Fear of failure keeps so many people stuck. But what if you aimed to fail—on purpose? This sounds counterintuitive, but setting a "fail goal" helps remove the pressure to be perfect.
A writer struggling with perfectionism might set a goal to "write the worst first draft possible." A job seeker might aim to "get 10 rejections this month." By flipping failure into something expected, the fear disappears and action becomes easier.
What to do instead:
Give yourself permission to suck. Progress matters more than perfection.
Aim for a specific number of failures. The more "no’s" you collect, the closer you are to a "yes."
See failure as data, not defeat. Every "mistake" teaches you something useful.
Take action: Set a "fail goal" for something you’re avoiding. Aim for action, not perfection.
Read: How to overcome fear of failure & take action anyway
Feeling stuck isn’t a life sentence. The secret to moving forward isn’t waiting for inspiration, it’s taking one small step, right now.
✔ Action creates motivation. Start before you feel ready.
✔ Break goals into bite-sized, no-brainer steps.
✔ Move your body or change your environment to shift your mindset.
✔ Aim for progress, not perfection. Fail on purpose if needed.
You don’t need a full plan. You just need to begin.
What’s one small action you can take right now? Drop it in the comments.
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