It’s 2am and you’re wide awake again.
Scrolling through Instagram, watching other women start businesses, change careers, travel, do things. You feel that familiar tug in your chest—that “I want more” feeling you can’t quite shake.
But when it comes to actually doing something about it?
Crickets.
You feel stuck. And the worst part? You can’t figure out why.
You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You genuinely want your life to be different. So why does taking even the smallest step feel impossible?
If you’re reading this and nodding along, take a breath. You’re not broken. You’re not behind. And you’re definitely not alone.
Let me explain what’s really happening.
What "Stuck" Actually Means
Here’s the thing about feeling stuck: it’s not really about being unable to move.
You’re probably moving a lot, actually. Showing up for your kids, going to work, managing the household, and keeping everyone alive. You’re busy.
But none of it feels like progress toward the life you actually want.
That’s the stuck feeling: motion without momentum.
It’s the gap between where you are and where you want to be—and not knowing how to close it.
“You’re in motion, but there’s no momentum toward what matters to you. That’s what stuck really feels like.”
Here's 5 Reasons You Feel Stuck (That Have Nothing to Do With Laziness)
1. You Have Too Many Options
Plot twist: most women aren’t stuck because they have no options. They’re stuck because they have too many.
Go back to school? Start a business? New job? Stay home? Freelance? All of the above?
When everything feels possible, nothing feels doable. Your brain gets overwhelmed trying to pick the “right” path, so it picks… nothing.
Analysis paralysis isn’t laziness—it’s your brain trying to protect you from making a “mistake.”
2. You’re Terrified of Choosing Wrong
Let’s be honest: you’re not stuck—you’re scared.
What if you waste time? What if you fail publicly? What if people judge you? What if you let everyone down?
The fear of choosing wrong often feels scarier than staying stuck. At least stuck is familiar.
But here’s the truth: There is no “wrong” choice. There are just choices that teach you what’s next.
3. You’re Waiting to Feel “Ready”
“I’ll start when the kids are older.”
“I’ll make a move when I have more money saved.”
“I’ll go after it once I’m more confident.”
Sound familiar?
You will never feel completely ready. Confidence doesn’t come before action. It comes from action.
Waiting to feel ready is just fear wearing a more acceptable outfit.
4. Your Life Is Already Full
You’re not stuck because you’re lazy. You’re stuck because you’re exhausted.
Between work, kids, household management, relationships, and trying to keep your head above water, when exactly are you supposed to pursue this thing you want?
The stuck feeling often comes from time scarcity, not lack of desire.
You can’t figure out how to add one more thing without breaking. So you stay where you are.
5. You Don’t Actually Know What You Want
Everyone else seems to have it figured out. Clear goals. A purpose. A direction.
And you? You’re not even sure what you want. Maybe a vague sense of “more freedom” or “more fulfilment,” but when someone asks specifics, you draw a blank.
Not knowing what you want doesn’t make you directionless. It makes you human.
Especially if you’ve spent years focused on everyone else’s needs. Especially if you’ve been taught that your wants are selfish.
Stuck vs. Resting: Know the Difference
Not all stillness is stuckness. Sometimes you’re:
- ✨ Resting after a hard season
- 🧠 Processing a major life change
- 📚 Gathering information before deciding
- 💚 Healing from burnout
Permit yourself to be in a season of stillness without labelling it as “stuck.”
What Stuck Is Really Trying to Tell You
Here’s something I wish someone had told me years ago when I was stuck:
The stuck feeling isn’t a sign that something’s wrong with you. It’s a sign that something in your life has outgrown its container.
Maybe it’s your job that no longer fits who you’re becoming. Maybe it’s an identity (just a mom, just an employee) that feels too small. Maybe it’s a version of yourself you’ve been performing that doesn’t match who you actually are.
Stuck is your internal GPS saying: “Hey, we need to recalibrate. This route isn’t taking us where we want to go.”
It’s not a failure. It’s information
How to Start Getting Unstuck (Without Overwhelming Yourself)
Okay, enough analysis. Let’s talk about what to actually do.
I’m not going to give you a 10-step transformation plan. Because honestly? That’s overwhelming when you’re already stuck.
Instead, here are three gentle, realistic steps that work even when you’re exhausted and uncertain.
Step 1: Name What You’re Stuck In
Don’t try to figure out your dream life yet. That’s too big.
Instead, get specific about what you’re stuck in:
- A job that drains you?
- A routine that feels meaningless?
- An identity that no longer fits?
- Financial dependence that limits choices?
When you can name it, it becomes less overwhelming.
Grab a journal and write: “I feel stuck in…” and see what comes out.
Step 2: Ask Better Questions
Instead of asking:
❌ “What’s my purpose?”
❌ “What should I do with my life?”
Try asking:
✅ “What’s one thing I’d like to be different in 6 months?”
✅ “What drains my energy? What gives me energy?”
✅ “If I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I try?”
Smaller questions create smaller, doable answers.
Step 3: Take the Smallest Possible Step
You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow or make a dramatic life change.
You need to take one tiny step in any direction that interests you:
💬 Have a conversation with someone in a field you’re curious about
📚 Take a free online course in something that intrigues you
📝 Journal for 10 minutes about what you’d want if you had no limitations
⏰ Rearrange your schedule to create 30 minutes of space for yourself
📄 Update your resume—not to apply anywhere, just to see your skills on paper
Movement creates clarity. Even a small movement.
“The stuck feeling didn’t go away until I took imperfect action. Not a perfect action. Not confident action. Just any action.”
Small Steps to Start Getting Unstuck (Without Overwhelming Yourself)
If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking, “Okay, but HOW do I actually get unstuck?”—I hear you.
Here are gentle, realistic steps that work even when you’re exhausted, uncertain, and operating at full capacity:
Step 1: Name What You’re Stuck In (Not What You’re Stuck From)
Most advice tells you to figure out your dream life. But that’s too big when you’re stuck.
Instead, name what you’re stuck in:
- A job that drains you?
- A routine that feels meaningless?
- An identity that no longer fits?
- A season of life that’s particularly hard?
- Financial dependence that limits choices?
Get specific about the stuck feeling. When you can name it, it becomes less overwhelming.
Step 2: Ask Better Questions
Instead of asking:
- “What’s my purpose?” (too big)
- “What should I do with my life?” (too overwhelming)
Try asking:
- “What’s one thing I’d like to be different in 6 months?”
- “What drains my energy? What gives me energy?”
- “If I knew I couldn’t fail, what would I try?”
- “What did I love doing before life got so busy?”
Smaller questions create smaller, doable answers.
Step 3: Take the Smallest Possible Step
You don’t need to quit your job, start a business, or make a dramatic life change tomorrow.
You just need to take one tiny step in any direction that interests you:
- Have a conversation with someone in a field you’re curious about
- Take a free online course in something that intrigues you
- Journal for 10 minutes about what you’d want if you had no limitations
- Rearrange one area of your life to create 30 minutes of space for yourself
- Update your resume—not to apply anywhere, just to see your skills on paper
Movement creates clarity. Even small movement.
Step 4: Give Yourself Permission to Explore Without Committing
You don’t have to know where you’re going. You’re allowed to try things just to see if they fit.
Think of this season as exploration, not decision-making.
You can:
- Be curious about something without making it your career
- Try a side project without it becoming your whole identity
- Explore an interest without it being “productive”
- Change your mind after trying something
Exploration is not a waste of time. It’s how you find your way.
Step 5: Find One Person Who Gets It
Feeling stuck is lonely. It’s hard to explain to people who are content or who’ve never questioned their path.
Find one person—a friend, a therapist, a coach, an online community—who understands the stuck feeling and won’t try to talk you out of your desire for something different.
Community makes everything easier.
You're Not Behind. You're Right on Time.
If you’re feeling stuck right now, please hear this:
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re not behind.
You’re a woman navigating a complex life with limited time, limited support, and unlimited expectations placed on you.
Feeling stuck is not a personal failing. It’s a normal response to an abnormal amount of pressure.
You don’t need a perfect plan or complete confidence.
You just need to take one small step. And then another. And then another.
The path forward isn’t about finding the perfect direction. It’s about moving—even just a little—toward something that feels more like you.
Your Next Steps
🎧 Listen to the podcast episode: “The Stuck Feeling Explained” for deeper insights and personal stories
📥 Download the free worksheet: “The Unstuck Action Plan” to identify what you’re stuck in and take your first step
💬 Join the conversation: What are you feeling stuck in? Share on Instagram using #SheIsCapable