I’m a pretty upbeat person. I’m usually a master at finding the positive in almost any situation – like our disastrous, near-fatal Sedona trip.
But recently, I’ve struggled with a low-level, unexplained depression. Nothing major. A lack of motivation. Trouble focusing and getting things done.
This week, I sat at my computer, determined to write several blog posts and “get ahead.” As the minutes stretched to an hour, and the second hour came to a close, I found myself still scrolling Facebook for cat videos.
Thoughts did not materialize. Inspiration did not strike, and I couldn’t force it to happen. I realized that the blog posts probably were not going to happen.
My confidence tanked. Why bother? Is anyone listening anyway? It’d be easier if I just quit.
Not kidding – it spiraled that quickly. I wanted to quit because I had a bad day.
PLEASE tell me I’m not alone here!
I wanted to crawl back into bed and binge-watch Stranger Things, justifying it as “self-care.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a HUGE advocate of self-care.
But I knew that crawling into bed – this time – would not be self-care. It’d be self-pity.
Being stuck zaps your confidence. But sometimes the greatest cure to depression, self-pity, and a lack of confidence is simply ACTION.
So I lovingly gave myself permission to not have a super-productive day. I counted my blessings that I HAVE a business to attend to. And then I asked myself a question: “What CAN I do?”
What CAN I do? I started with some “housekeeping” tasks on this website – updating themes and such. TOUCHING my business. Doing SOMETHING.
Then I saw an article I wrote a few months ago that’s very relevant this time of year. So I posted it in my Facebook group and shared it on my business page. I re-connected with my message – my why – in a small, but concrete way.
4-Step Action Plan When You’re Stuck
- Give yourself grace. Some days, you take on the world and come out standing. Other days, you may “only” get out of bed and keep yourself and your loved ones alive. (That’s really a huge accomplishment, BTW!) Both types of days are okay.
- Practice gratitude. Notice what’s going well in your life. What’s working. What brings you joy or lifts your spirits. It’s okay to acknowledge the suck (we DON’T do toxic positivity here!). But keep sight of the good as well.
- Take action. Large or small, it doesn’t matter. Do SOMETHING. Maybe it’s the tiniest little step toward a goal. Those tiny steps can often give you the motivation to keep going. And if not, that’s okay, too. Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be action toward that particular goal. Action of ANY kind can get you out of a rut and build your sense of competence.
- Remember your why. Keep your vision and purpose in mind to keep you motivated when times are tough. Visualize what it’ll look like when you’re full-out living your purpose.
Recommended Resources:
Get Unstuck: 40 Ways to Find Your Flow and Get Stuff Done
In this no-fluff workshop, you’ll discover how to refocus, build momentum, and reach your goals without wasting time and effort trying so dang hard.
Whether you’re tangled in a web of indecision, paralyzed by overwhelm, or just plain out of gas, you’re in the right place. This course is your ultimate toolkit for busting through the blocks and rediscovering your mojo.
Discover how to:
- Spot and eliminate the bottlenecks slowing you down.
- Restore your focus and energy.
- Reclaim your time (and your sanity) by working smarter, not harder.
- Regain your enthusiasm and momentum.
- Complete your goals and projects.
Vision Board Bundle
Follow the 8-Step Vision Clarity Process to create a vision board that’s intentional, meaningful, and aligned with your true desires. (And not someone else’s vision for your life!)
You also get 250+ creative assets to add to your physical or digital vision board, including digital and printable stickers, digital vision board templates, and more!
