Advice for Regaining Your Momentum in Life and at Work   

There comes a time in everyone’s life where they feel stuck. Everything feels off – work, career, friends, you name it. Once one thing starts, and then there’s a snowball effect. You begin questioning everything: Should I really be doing this job? Should I try moving to a big city? Do I love what I do? I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but how do I do that? Getting unstuck requires a lot of self-care, self-introspection, and a long, hard look in the mirror.

Below are some suggestions to help get unstuck:

• Journal: Writing daily will help you feel better emotionally, as well as zero in on what is really going on – i.e. Do you need a career change? Do you really want to try living in a big city, but you’re scared? Do you want to start your own business but don’t know how? What are you really afraid of? Is it what people with think of you? That you’ll fail? Be honest and open with yourself. Journaling will help you focus in on the true problem. If it’s a career change you think you need, sometimes, making a list of things you love to do, and those you don’t, helps narrow down the options.
• Check In: Jillian Michaels, the trainer from TV’s The Biggest Loser, and host of the international motivational tour “Maximize Your Life,” suggests checking in hourly with yourself, writing down what you’re doing, and how you’re feeling while you’re doing it. This will help you gauge if you’re doing what you love, surrounding yourself with the right people, etc. Are you feeling excited to go into work? Does your significant other make you laugh? Do you feel stressed when you get an e-mail from your boss? Why?
• Take Stock: What are you doing when you’re not at work? Do you spend your time at the gym, painting, or cooking in the kitchen? Think about a job or role in a field doing something fun. They always say, when you love what you do, it isn’t work.
• Get Lost: Still need some help with figuring out what you love to do? Are there activities you do where you completely lose track of time? Maybe it’s writing, drawing, running, or playing sports. When you’re in the zone and time flies – that’s where your passion lies. How can you incorporate these things into your daily life?
• Take Time For You: Even if it’s an hour a day – it could be squeezing in a workout, reading a book, or painting your nails. Taking a little time for you will help you feel more centered and less frazzled.
• Meditate: Easier said than done, but it will help. Start small, with five minutes, and work your way up to twenty a day.
• Try A Self Help Book: There are many great self-help books out there. For instance, Follow Your Bliss forces self-introspection and has a lot of exercises to help you find your purpose.
• Focus on The Positives: Begin and end your day with fifteen things you’re thankful for. Gratitude cures everything. (For extra credit, keep a gratitude journal.)
• Use the Unstuck App: As with most things in life today, there’s an app for that.  While you’re at it, have a look at their amusing/helpful blog and sign up for their newsletter.
• Do your Research: Think you want to try a new city? Research the cost of living, taxes, traffic, etc. See if you can find a friend of a friend who lives there to give you the low down. Want to try a new career? Volunteer with a non-profit and help them out with their finances/marketing/social media to get a feel for if you truly want to do that. This will also help you narrow down what you like/don’t like – and in the meantime, you’re supporting a great cause.
• Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Sometimes, you’ve got to push yourself out of your rut. If you’re a bookworm, then join a painting class, or sign up for a volunteer group for an organization that sounds kind of intriguing, but novel, and not something you would normally consider. Sometimes changing things up will change your perspective.
• Just Jump: Weigh and carefully consider your options, but don’t get paralyzed by fear…sometimes, you’ve just got to take a leap of faith!
• Go for a Walk: Sometimes just getting out in nature can help clear your head and slow your mind.
• Talk It Out: Talk to a friend/therapist/family member about what’s going on – sometimes a shoulder to lean on is all you need.
• Get Some Sleep: Feeling tired and frazzled? That’s not helping anything. Getting some proper shut eye will help focus everything.
• Follow Your Heart: Taking a leap of faith and following your heart can be scary. Fight the fear. Sometimes, you’ve got to take a risk and listen to your gut. It’ll never steer you wrong.