How to overcome getting stuck
A common theme I’ve noticed lately is clients who feel stuck. They want to get organized but can’t seem to overcome whatever is in their way. We’ve all been there at one time or another.
How do we wedge free from the “stuckness” and find a pathway forward?
For many, how we got here is often overlooked. We’re so focused on where we want to be that we don’t recognize the symptoms of stuckness. Here are two examples:
Example One: It’s time to make dinner. The kitchen counters are covered with stuff, there is little work space. Cabinets are half filled, and you need to find the ingredients. You sort through items, shift appliances, move things around, and after a period of “shifting”, you give up and order take out — never getting the kitchen organized.
Example Two: You are struggling at work. You are behind on a project and are running late for a meeting. You get to your desk and have little time to prepare. You're feeling overwhelmed and behind the eightball. You see a block of time in the afternoon and earmark that for catch up, but your past due work has to take priority. You complete the past due work, but still have a million things waiting for your attention. You go home feeling like you dodged a bullet, but you just can’t seem to get ahead.
In both examples, the result was falling back into bad habits and old behaviors that stop us from change. If you're ready to break the cycle, we need to stop and assess what is really happening.
Start with evaluating your goals. I've talked about this before: Goals serve as a guide. With any project, starting by outlining your goals is essential. Goals help you get back on track and provide alignment. In the example above, if the goal is a clean kitchen so the counters are free of clutter, then all that stuff must go elsewhere. You need to start by sorting what you have and putting things away. If your cabinets are full, then you know the first order of business is to declutter or edit how much you have.
Letting your goals be the driver of decision-making. It takes the pressure off when you're struggling with what to do.
Break down the task. This concept is also something I talk about with clients. So often, we get stuck in the "whole" of a project, which makes it difficult to get things done. David Allen and James Clear talk about the "Two Minute Rule," which means a task becomes easier to complete when you can do it in less than two minutes. Apply this two-minute rule to your project by breaking tasks down into actions that take two minutes or less. In the example above, if you're struggling with feeling behind at work, perhaps try to break the process down into something like this:
Review email for any actions and add to a master list
Return voicemail phone calls
Prioritize the master to-do list
Schedule time in the calendar for priority one items
The idea is to break down something large and complex into manageable steps.
Seek help or support. Support is a valuable strategy when you’re feeling stuck. Support can look different for everyone, even those who live alone. Here are some different ways you can support yourself when stuck:
Practice self-care. Ensure you are hydrated, rested, and fueled before starting each day. You will always be clear-headed and focused if you take care of yourself.
Have an accountability partner. Choose a friend, family member, colleague, employee, co-worker, or neighbor. Work together or ask them to check in with you on your status. If you're uncomfortable working with someone, hold yourself accountable by scheduling a deadline to complete a task or project.
Hire a professional. Sometimes, we work the best with one-on-one support. Working alongside someone can give you adequate support and save you lots of wasted time (and perhaps money).
There is always a demand for us to do more with less. For some, this might be straightforward, but for others, it’s still challenging and we get overwhelmed or stuck. The issue of "stuckness" is a symptom of a bigger problem. To best diagnose how to solve the stuckness, we must step back and evaluate what success looks like and how we can change to achieve it.
