When you feel stuck or out of ideas, progress towards your goal(s) can plummet. That’s why it is so important to know and utilize a couple of strategies that work for you. Having a set of reliable strategies, you can better navigate the inevitable ups and downs or trying to reach a goal. Here are some ideas to kickstart you momentum has slowed to a halt.
- Always come back to your intention. When a decision arises, or a challenge meets you, think how can I honor my intention with my next step?
- Eliminate that which competes. This may mean...
- Putting aside other goals (for now)
- Taking a look at your environment– who and what you surround yourself with, does it support your growth?
- Simplify your choices - if the only choice available is that which honors your intention and gets you closer to your goal, then it is a lot easier to choose that option.
- Choose for your future self (opt-out method)
- Use visual cues. Write your intention and put it in a place where you see it everyday, maybe make your phone background something that reminds you of it, or think of how you can make your work environment a special space that encourages work, focus, motivation, and drive.
- Share your intention with a trusted confidant. Go back to that person whenever you feel like you are losing sight of your goals or intention. Be clear on how you would like for them to keep you accountable. How could they be your motivator and cheerleader?
- Seek help. Talking through your challenges with a therapist or coach may be the key step to unlocking your next steps.
- If you are looking for a safe and confidential space for you to express your thoughts, explore your emotions, and dive deeper into recognizing how your past experiences are impacting your current situations, then therapy is the right place for you.
- Alternatively, coaching is set apart by the way a coach approaches a conversation with a client. Coaches help you through a process of discovery by using active listening skills, asking powerful questions, expanding thought processes, identifying limited beliefs, designing action steps and following up. Simply put, an objective view of your situation might provide you with clarity or unseen solutions.
- Plug into your network. Doors that you are not able to open might be accessible to someone in your network. A referral, kind word, an opportunity or the likes might be the momentum shift you need to achieve your goal.
- List 5 people that you can connect with in your network.
- Be specific about what you are looking for. Whether it be a contact, a conversation, information, mentorship, or even a lead or a foot in the door.
- Be respectful of the favor. This could look like being on time to your meeting, going out of your way to make the meeting convenient for the other person, following up promptly, showing up prepared, and being open to paying it forward or paying it back.
- Show thanks. Showing your appreciation never goes unnoticed.
- List 5 people that you can connect with in your network.
- Give back and pay it forward. An act of kindness might bring you out of the cycle of your own issues, allowing you to reapproach your challenges with a refreshed perspective and new motivations.
- Look into volunteering in areas that you are passionate about, become a mentor, or help others with their roadblocks or challenges. You never know what opportunities might come about from your kindness. It will help with your overall self-satisfaction and it could help you build connections in new and meaningful ways.
- Take a moment. Similarly, sometimes stepping away for a predetermined amount of time allows for you to re-engage with the goal with fresh ideas, a filled cup, and the fortitude to continue.
- Ever come up with a great idea in the shower? This is because when you take a break, especially if you do something relaxing or mindless, your brain's default mode network (DMN) becomes active. This network is associated with mind-wandering, daydreaming, and creativity. It allows your brain to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.
- Taking a break provides an incubation period where your subconscious mind can process information without the pressure of focused attention. During this time, your brain continues to work on problems in the background, often leading to creative solutions or insights.
- Lastly, if you change your environment or engage in different activities, you expose yourself to new stimuli. This can trigger new ideas and perspectives that you might not have considered while focused on a task.
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What will be your go to strategies when you feel stuck or hit a roadblock?
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What competes?
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What are some visual cues that could help you stick with your goals?
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Who is a trusted confidant? What do you want them to help you with? How can they best help you stay accountable?
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What has been calling you to give back or pay it forward?
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How can I support myself through the challenges or competing factors?
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What helps you to disconnect?