Adrian Volenik
When you’re stuck, you’re not progressing, right? So, do you feel like you’re trapped in a loop and not making any progress, no matter how hard you try?
The thing is, when you’re feeling stuck in life, it doesn’t really matter if it’s true or not. It’s enough that you think you’re not living up to your full potential.
But could some of your daily habits simply be the reason behind this awful feeling? They certainly could, so let’s find out what some of these habits are.
1) Putting off tasks
You know that feeling when you keep delaying stuff you need to do? Like, you plan to start a project, but you keep saying, “I’ll do it later”?
That’s procrastination. It’s like delaying things until the last minute, which makes everything more stressful and overwhelming. It can also make you feel like you aren’t doing anything meaningful in life.
But listen, I’m not some kind of productivity machine. I kick the can down the road like everyone else.
However, I still do enough things in a day so I don’t feel like I’m spinning my wheels in place. And I can tell you, it’s not just busywork.
So I have a suggestion. Wake up tomorrow and decide that you’ll eat the frog. You’ll start that thing you’ve been delaying for far too long, okay?
2) Shying away from challenges
Are you shying away from trying new things because you’re scared of failing? That’s avoiding challenges, and that can be a problem.
You see, facing challenges helps you grow and learn new stuff. When you step out of your comfort zone, your body and mind learn to adapt on the go, and that’s incredibly beneficial for you and for your future.
Frankly, I love being comfortable. Many times in the past, when things got tough, I quit and never looked back.
Well, that’s not entirely true:
I often look back and think about what my life would look like now if I only stuck with that thing for a bit longer.
You know, if only I persisted and pushed through what looked like an impossible challenge at the time.
And that brings me to this:
3) Living in the past
Constantly dwelling on past mistakes or regrets can prevent you from moving forward. It’s like trying to drive a car while continually looking in the rearview mirror.
You’re bound to crash if you’re not focusing on the road ahead.
But the truth is, anytime I’m feeling stuck in life, I start looking back at where I perhaps went wrong. And that in itself isn’t bad, right?
I mean, we should learn from our mistakes and strive to do better next time. But the issue arises when you start living in the past and not doing enough for your future.
If anything, by my accounts, you should be living 85% in the present, 10% in the future, and 5% in the past.
Now, let’s talk about that 10%.
4) Not having clear goals
Picture sailing a boat without a destination in mind. You’re just drifting along in it with no clear direction.
Now, you could go far by sailing that way. Very far. But would you end up in a nice place, or would you drift away into stormy waters and crash and burn?
Setting goals gives you something to aim for and helps you stay focused and motivated. I know, I know, you’ve heard this a thousand times already.
But did you ever even once try it? Did you actually sit down, think long and hard, and write down what you came up with, including a way to get there and a timeframe?
Yeah, I thought so.
5) Constantly comparing yourself to others
You ever catch yourself thinking, “Why can’t I be as successful/popular/cool as them?” I know I do
But not all the time. Just sometimes. The reason why I don’t do it that much is because I don’t use Instagram, which I think is by far the most toxic social media site when it comes to comparing yourself to others.
In fact, 45% of Americans (and 68% of Gen Zers!) say Instagram is the most harmful to their self-image.
Everyone on IG looks perfect and presents their very best side of life. Even that kid who ate dirt is now posing in front of (rent-a-car) Lambos.
And this constant comparison to others can make you feel like you’re not good enough, even though you’re awesome just being you.
6) Dependency on others
Relying too much on others for validation or support can prevent you from developing your own sense of independence and self-reliance.
It’s like leaning on a crutch instead of learning to stand tall on your own.
But what am I really talking about here? Well, if you live with your parents (like many others), of course, you’re going to feel stuck.
And if you depend on others for your money (parents, spouse, the government), the same will happen.
Okay, now let’s cover some behaviors that lead not only to a lousy feeling and looking body but also to poor spirit.
7) Not moving enough
Think about those days when you just lounge around, binge-watching shows or scrolling through your phone instead of getting up and moving.
Not getting enough exercise means your body isn’t getting the activity it needs to stay energized and healthy.
But you don’t have to exercise to feel better. Many other ways of moving your body are beneficial to you. For example, you could go for a walk or hike in a park or in nature.
I’m also on a treadmill and doing at least two hours of walking while I’m writing. I gotta tell you, even though I didn’t effectively move an inch in those two hours, at the end of the day, I do feel accomplished.
8) Eating unhealthy foods
If your meals mainly consist of fast food, sugary snacks, and processed stuff, your body and mind are going to fail you sooner or later.
I had to learn this the hard way.
Your body simply needs nourishing food to function properly. Eating junk all the time makes you feel sluggish and tired, among other things.
It’s no wonder life expectancy in the U.S. is going down for the first time in decades.
9) Not getting enough sleep
Picture those nights when you stay up way too late binge-watching your favorite series or scrolling endlessly through social media.
Not getting enough shut-eye messes with your focus, mood, and overall well-being.
I had to put a lot of effort into getting my regular sleep schedule off the ground. In fact, it was one of my New Year’s resolutions a couple of years ago.
I had to sit down and see what I needed to do to finally make it happen. And guess what? I had to find a completely different job, one that had a flexible work schedule, in order to pull it off.
Now, that may not be realistic for you, but there are many things you can do to get more shut-eye and start feeling energized.
This, in turn, will help you crush those goals and unstuck you.
10) Spending too much time on screens
You knew this was going to be here, right? But, realistically, there’s nothing better at killing your mood and productivity than staring at screens of all sizes.
It doesn’t matter what you’re watching as long as you aren’t actively participating.
I often fool myself into thinking that watching educational videos on YouTube is learning. But, deep down, I know that’s BS.
Do those documentaries and educational videos make me smarter or more skilled at something? Do they help me advance my career or my dreams and goals? Of course not.
So admit to yourself that spending hours and hours glued to your phone, TV, or computer screen instead of doing productive stuff really eats up your time.
11) Not connecting with others regularly
Let me ask you this: are you spending all your time alone, rarely interacting with friends or family? It can feel pretty lonely and disconnected, right?
We need social connections to feel happy and supported. If you don’t have friends or anyone else to share your misery and your happiness with, get out of your comfort zone and make an effort to find someone.
Final thoughts
Getting stuck in life can prevent you from living a fulfilling and meaningful life. If you’re now at a point when you’re feeling stuck, take proactive steps to break free from inertia and start moving forward again.
If there’s one piece of advice I want you to take with you, it’s that you need to be open to trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone.
That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.
