How to get unstuck

Hi there, it’s Uylander. Happy New Year!

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a rut? For many of us, it’s an ongoing cycle each year – where we feel stuck. This feeling of being stuck is an unwelcome feeling which we would rather not experience. We start each year with a list of goals, things that we really want to accomplish. Like many of you, I had a list of goals. One such goal was to publish a blogpost on the first day of each month. Let me tell you, writing a blogpost is HARD work. This was an ambitious goal – I didn’t know writing a blogpost could be so time consuming. Of course, life got in the way and this goal remains unaccomplished. Fortunately, each new day and each new year allows us to start over.

During the period of Christmas and New Year’s, our emotions rise to the surface like oil on top of water. The emotions alternate between fear, happiness or downright trepidation at unfulfilled goals. The Twixmas period (between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day) brings reflection of our lives throughout the past year; as well as a renewal of our resolve to do better in the upcoming new year. With this in mind, as you slowly ease into the new year, take some time to unwind and rejuvenate. Become mindful of ways that you can get out of the rut and become unstuck.

How can we make 2023 better than any other year? It starts with intentionality. However, being intentional will only take us so far. Along the way we will run out of the proverbial gas. We can overcome this hurdle by focusing on our initial whys. Why do we want to achieve this particular goal? What will the achievement of the goal do for us? What need will it fulfill? How can we fulfill these goals? What steps can we take?

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Chinese proverb

Review/Reflect

Undoubtedly, as you and I review 2022, we will see many things which were not completed as planned. Sure, we do have valid excuses as to why they remain undone. Let’s not beat ourselves up. There is always the chance to start over. Whether the goal was to complete your education, start a business, start a family, look at what went well. Celebrate those small successes. List your achievements – both big and small – for 2022.

To what extent were you success in accomplishing those goals? What did you do? Can you duplicate the process for a similar goal? What were your goals at the beginning of 2022? In your reflection, look at what did not go as well. What did you learn? Do you need to tweak a process? Small incremental changes can lead to significant changes and even success. Take a broad look at where you are spending time and money, is it working? By reflecting, we can review important lessons such as successes and failures. In addition, we can look at the the steps required for us to have a different outcome.

Revise

The reflection or review process will show areas in which improvements are needed. In fact, it may be necessary to start over. When we are starting over, it is critical to ensure that we are doing things differently. It has been said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome”. Revise the order in which the task or process is done. In fact, sometimes it is necessary to go back to the drawing board and eliminate unnecessary steps which can lead to overwhelm and frustration. Bear in mind that it is never too late to start over. You will be wiser and stronger.

Repeat

Evidently, some steps require repeating, as these steps were beneficial to us reaching our goals. Or they may have helped in giving a different perspective, teaching us something. In an article by Anthony Moore, he advised us to not set New Year’s resolutions but to create processes and systems instead. We can create small steps, which we do everyday towards the achievement of our SMART goals.

For example, if you want to become healthier, it may mean getting up earlier so that you can exercise, even if it is for ten minutes. At the end of the week, you will be fitter than when you started. In addition to getting up earlier, laying out your gym clothes the night before will help in reaching your fitness goals – as you will not have to think about what you will wear. Furthermore, the fact that they are easily accessible to you will provide motivation, sending a message to your brain that it’s exercise time.

What can I do about the blogpost monkey on my back? Firstly, I can change the posting deadline from the 1st of the month to a more convenient date. Secondly, I will make time to write consistently, for example 10-15 minutes per day. At the end of each week I should have something that is readable.

In summary, things will never be just perfect, there will always be uncertainties and unknowns. Power through those so that you can realize your dreams. The beautiful thing about life is that we can start over. Yes, 2022 did not turn out the way we planned. Our plans got derailed or we got sidetracked. We can reset our goals and start over in a new year. By creating discipline and processes, your dreams can be in your grasp. Your dreams are on the other side of your fears. Without trying, you will never know if your dreams are possible. Ultimately, you and I can live with intention. By reflecting on the past year, revising strategies that we used as well as repeating successful strategies and processes. Without trying, you will not know what can be. Here’s to living 2023 with intention and purpose!

If you have ever been in a rut, click here to share your experience and strategies that worked for you.