What to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Parris Kidd
Do you feel stuck?
You aren’t alone. People of all stages of life may be dealing with challenges similar to yours.
- Singles: growing weary of the dating game?
- Married couples: exhausted from dealing with relationship issues?
- Parents: problems with your kids making you lose your mind?
What about your career? Do you feel stuck there too? Or perhaps lack of work is causing heightened levels of stress and worry.
And what about leisure activities? Do you fail to derive the same level of enjoyment from hobbies and activities that you used to?
Do you feel like your workout routines have plateaued?
These, and many other factors, can make you desperate for a change in your current circumstances. Being in a rut can make you more prone to negative thoughts – which can make you feel even more stuck.
The good news is there are natural ways to help you mentally deal with your feelings of sameness or personal stagnation. Following these 6 helpful steps can help you revitalize your routines…
6 Ways to Keep Moving Forward with Your Life When You Feel Stuck
Mental Hygiene
While it’s necessary to practice good physical hygiene, many fail to realize that it’s just as important to have good mental hygiene. Letting your fears run wild in your mind can leave you feeling stressed or worried, so be proactive at curbing negative thoughts.
You can disinfect your thoughts by exterminating the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that steal your happiness. Anytime you feel sad, mad, nervous, or stressed, write down what you’re thinking and then challenge that ANT. When you stop believing every fearful thought you have, you can start to regain control of your life.
Deep Breathing
Whenever you feel trapped or overwhelmed, do a deep breathing exercise. Take a deep breath, hold it for two seconds, and then slowly exhale for about five seconds. Do this 10 times and you should start to feel relaxed.
It sounds so simple, but breathing is essential to life. When you slow down and become more efficient with your breathing, you may find that your outlook has improved and that you feel less stressed¹ and worried.
Easy Does It
While physical activity has an overall positive effect on health and longevity,² it’s possible to overdo it. Those who don’t prefer working out at the gym may choose to increase the frequency and intensity of their at-home workout routines to stay in shape. While this is a healthy impulse, too much exercise can have a negative effect on the body and brain.
For instance, it’s possible to tear a muscle or cause joint pain. Those unaccustomed to high-intensity workouts also may experience increased stress from such vigorous exercise. A low-impact exercise, like walking, is ideal since getting outside for some fresh air and sunshine should help to counter the effects of boredom or cabin fever.
Virtual Vacation
Traveling to far-off places can introduce you to new experiences, customs, sights, and people. But what can you do if you don’t have the time, resources, or ability to travel to an exotic location? Take a virtual vacation!
Select a country you’d like to visit and watch an online travelogue or documentary to learn more about its culture, cuisine, and points of interest. Or, establish a weekly education night where you virtually visit the dream destinations of everyone in your family. Learning as much as you can about a culture now will serve to enrich your experience when you eventually visit the country in the future.
Stay Connected
Social connections are incredibly important to your overall well-being. Focusing your time and energy on positive people can have a dramatic impact on your everyday life and longevity. Having quality connections also can help remind you that you’re not alone in the world.
Even if you live a great distance from friends or family, visual communications are possible via applications like Skype or FaceTime. Also, a good old-fashioned phone call is still an excellent way to keep in touch with others, so consider reaching out to that old college buddy or long-lost relative.
Ride the Waves
Perhaps your energy levels have yo-yoed or your mood has resembled a roller coaster ride during recent months. Coping strategies might help you during this unprecedented season of life.
One technique is to visualize yourself riding ocean waves. Realizing that you’ll encounter many ups and downs in the days and months ahead can help you anticipate potential problems and recover from them more quickly.
These are just a few proven tips for dealing with isolation and worry. We hope they help you, and your friends and family, get out of a rut and back on track.
At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
References:
- Perciavalle, V., Blandini, M., Fecarotta, P., Buscemi, A., Di Corrado, D., Bertolo, L., Fichera, F., & Coco, M. (2017). The role of deep breathing on stress: A randomized controlled trial. Neurological Sciences, 38(3), 451–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2790-8
- Warburton, D. E. R., Nicol, C. W., & Bredin, S. D. S. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. CMAJ, 174(6), 801–809. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.051351
Great article!
Excellent article!!