We all get stuck sometimes. I don't mean getting your car stuck in the mud. I mean mentally stuck.
Mentally stuck means you're not taking action. You're basically idling, doing other things instead of the tasks at hand. It feels bad, but it's also something that you don't think you can get out of.
I know this feeling. Many times I don't even know it's happening because the one thing I can always do is write. Ideas pop into my head, I write them out, and I'm done.
However, there are times when that's all I can do. I don't work on my business. I don't remember to eat, don't remember to clean the kitchen, don't remember to do laundry. That's what stuck does; it makes you forget everything else that helps to make you whole.
Luckily, when I do recognize I'm stuck, there are things I start doing that pulls me out of it. They allow me to push forward, to take action towards my goals. They help to get me out of a false comfort level, because it always feels good to "not" be doing something, but if it's not helping you push forward then it's not good for you.
To keep it simple, I'm only giving 5 ways to push forward, to get unstuck, and get back on track.
First, get out some paper and start writing things down. This might be a list of goals; it might be a list of steps toward a goal. It might be a list of things you want out of life. It might even be a list of the things you want to buy when you attain your goals. A grocery list doesn't count; this has to be a big time life action list, not anything relatively mundane.
Writing things down might feel like a chore, but it's actually cathartic and frees your mind. It also helps you focus on everything and you get to decide what's important and what you can put aside for a while.
Second, schedule tomorrow if it's a work day; if not, then schedule your first work day. Schedule when you're going to wake up, what you want to work on and at what time. Break things up into chunks of anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Don't schedule any one thing for more than 2 hours straight; if you have problems with concentration this will help you out.Mentally stuck means you're not taking action. You're basically idling, doing other things instead of the tasks at hand. It feels bad, but it's also something that you don't think you can get out of.
I know this feeling. Many times I don't even know it's happening because the one thing I can always do is write. Ideas pop into my head, I write them out, and I'm done.
However, there are times when that's all I can do. I don't work on my business. I don't remember to eat, don't remember to clean the kitchen, don't remember to do laundry. That's what stuck does; it makes you forget everything else that helps to make you whole.
Luckily, when I do recognize I'm stuck, there are things I start doing that pulls me out of it. They allow me to push forward, to take action towards my goals. They help to get me out of a false comfort level, because it always feels good to "not" be doing something, but if it's not helping you push forward then it's not good for you.
To keep it simple, I'm only giving 5 ways to push forward, to get unstuck, and get back on track.
First, get out some paper and start writing things down. This might be a list of goals; it might be a list of steps toward a goal. It might be a list of things you want out of life. It might even be a list of the things you want to buy when you attain your goals. A grocery list doesn't count; this has to be a big time life action list, not anything relatively mundane.
Writing things down might feel like a chore, but it's actually cathartic and frees your mind. It also helps you focus on everything and you get to decide what's important and what you can put aside for a while.
Don't forget to schedule time to eat and time to take breaks, something many of us don't do. By scheduling ahead, you can go to bed with a calmer mind without the distraction of trying to remember what you want to do the next day.
The thing about this one is that you now have something to guide you. Try to stick as close to it as you can, but don't let it confine you. Also, if you can set up audible alarms so you don't have to constantly look at your planner. Brendon Burchard talks about setting an alarm to go off every 3 hours to remind him to ask himself what he's doing at that moment; it's an idea based off that.
Third, if you're able, put on some music or background noise. I know a lot of people say they concentrate better when it's totally quiet but I've found that I'm one of those people easily distracted by odd noises when it's supposedly totally quiet. By putting on music, whatever music works for you, you'll find that your concentration level goes up, the music makes you feel better without you even noticing it, and the time goes by fast.
Fourth, unless you're waiting for a specific call or email, close both and don't check them except during your break periods, and even then only briefly. These are things that we hope will distract us and take us away from what needs to get done. Often they're successful if we're checking either every 10 minutes, hoping for something new to consume us, but it doesn't help our productivity in any way.
Fifth... have your final alarm signal when your work day is over. This one might seem strange to most people who have scheduled work days but for many of us there's no set schedule so we work all day and all night, even if it's sporadic. What will you do once you've signaled your work day is over? Whatever you want to do, whether it's to continue working on a project, watch TV, play a video game, read a book... who cares, it's now your time.
Overall, the basic premise in getting unstuck is to add a bit of structure to your day. This might not be something you need to do every day throughout the year, but it's a great way to get yourself out of a rut and back on track.
The thing about this one is that you now have something to guide you. Try to stick as close to it as you can, but don't let it confine you. Also, if you can set up audible alarms so you don't have to constantly look at your planner. Brendon Burchard talks about setting an alarm to go off every 3 hours to remind him to ask himself what he's doing at that moment; it's an idea based off that.
Third, if you're able, put on some music or background noise. I know a lot of people say they concentrate better when it's totally quiet but I've found that I'm one of those people easily distracted by odd noises when it's supposedly totally quiet. By putting on music, whatever music works for you, you'll find that your concentration level goes up, the music makes you feel better without you even noticing it, and the time goes by fast.
Fourth, unless you're waiting for a specific call or email, close both and don't check them except during your break periods, and even then only briefly. These are things that we hope will distract us and take us away from what needs to get done. Often they're successful if we're checking either every 10 minutes, hoping for something new to consume us, but it doesn't help our productivity in any way.
Fifth... have your final alarm signal when your work day is over. This one might seem strange to most people who have scheduled work days but for many of us there's no set schedule so we work all day and all night, even if it's sporadic. What will you do once you've signaled your work day is over? Whatever you want to do, whether it's to continue working on a project, watch TV, play a video game, read a book... who cares, it's now your time.
Overall, the basic premise in getting unstuck is to add a bit of structure to your day. This might not be something you need to do every day throughout the year, but it's a great way to get yourself out of a rut and back on track.
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