What happens when you’re stuck?

What does “being stuck” mean? The definition according to Word-12.3.6 is: unable to find a solution… jammed or caught.

There are many reasons why people become stuck:

• Business owners are stuck finding new ways to market themselves, their product, and their company
• Students have an assignment and they can’t decide on the research and how to start a report
• New Moms can’t decide what to do first: nap, laundry, pick-up toys
• You decided to move homes, what comes first and how much time do you need to prepare
• You have to many papers on your desk, how do you organize
• And many more scenarios…

Every day a person can find themselves stuck and not sure how to move forward. This feeling leads to:

• Overwhelm
• Procrastination
• Feeling out of control
• Avoidance

It’s a cycle that can sometimes lead to being stuck over and over and over again. I know how this feels because I too feel stuck. Since starting my own company at the end of 2012, I have felt this emotion many times. How to meet new people; who do I want to work with; what type of programs do I want to offer; pricing; do I want to hire a business coach; what will my blog post be about this week? It’s a feeling I’m sure many have had in the past and many will have in the future.

The question is how do I overcome the feeling of being stuck. What can I do about it, RIGHT NOW?

– The first thing is to realize that you are not alone. There is always help and guidance that can be found. Social Media is a great example of how to ask for help. You can Tweet, post on Facebook, etc about how you are feeling and get other people’s opinions. Find an accountability partner (or friend) to help you keep on track with your goals.

• For example, today I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to write about in my blog post. I was talking with a business accountability partner and I mentioned being “stuck” with what to write about… The more I tried to brainstorm ideas she said, “Why don’t you write about being stuck”…. Eureka!

– Focus on 1 task at a time. Multi-tasking is easier these days, but not always efficient. I can vouch for that! Take time on 1 task and complete it… It’s much easier to finish and deliver results on one project, then to start multiple projects and not finish any.

– Use a timer. When you are focused on 1 task, having a timer to keep you posted and (on time), will help you complete the project more effectively. I use the Pomodoro technique, which is a time management method created by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. You can download it on you iPad, iPhone, and computer.

• http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/book/

– Create a to-do list. This is the best option to staying focused during the day. You can create this list either before you go to bed for the next day OR when you wake up in the morning. Write down (just for that day) the task(s) that you want to complete. It’s ok to have 2 lists – one for the week and one for the day – when you have a list in front of you, its easier to finish a task, cross it off your list, and move onto the next task.

– Try not to worry too much about the results or how to get a project completed, just focus on the task at hand. Don’t put too much emotion into the task, but work. We often worry too much how to handle a situation (or task) and loose track on actually completing the goal.

Being “stuck” isn’t always a bad thing. It gives clarity to the daily grind and helps us focus on what we want to accomplish. As my Mom would say, “remember Rome wasn’t built in a day”, take your time and things will work out.

How do you handling being stuck? Please share your thoughts.

Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net