What Do I Do Now?: Overcoming Stagnancy in Life

By Tan Walker|UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

There are times in life when we feel like we are excelling and accomplishing our goals. There are also times where we feel stagnant, and our lives have come to a complete halt. Believe it or not, it is quite common for us to sometimes feel uninspired and unmotivated to complete certain tasks or become a victim of procrastination. This can feel like a never-ending cycle of feeling like we’re on top of the world and drowning all at once. Here are some signs that you are stagnating:

• If you are experiencing chronic procrastination on your goals and aspirations
• If you’re not in the mood to do anything
• If you rely on sleep, eating, and other activities for entertainment and comfort
• If you know you should be doing something, but you keep avoiding it
• If you have not achieved anything new in the last few months
• If you feel like you are not reaching your potential

Trying to face stagnation in life can be a sign of a deeper problem. It is important to not eat yourself up over it and focus on overcoming this feeling. These few steps can help you gain the momentum you need to help you get back on track: 

Realize that you aren’t alone- Everyone feels stagnant at some point or another. You are not alone, and it is completely normal.

Find things that inspire you- Set goals for yourself and believe that there are no limitations for yourself.

Give yourself a break- Normalize taking breaks for yourself. Taking 3-6 months to rewind and regroup can be very beneficial.

Change your daily routines- It’s okay to change things around. Doing the same things over and over again can sometimes make us stagnant.

Make a small step- It is important to take action towards the goals that you set. Don’t be afraid of the unknown, or worry about being a perfectionist. Take things one day at a time!

Always remember that everything starts with us. We are responsible for what we choose to do within our lives and how we feel about certain things. Don’t let stagnation define you!Celestine ChuaCelestine is the Founder of Personal Excellence where she shares her best advice on how to boost productivity and achieve excellence in life. Read full profile by following the link below.

Chua, C. (2020, January 21). 5 steps to move out of stagnancy in life. Lifehack. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/5-steps-to-move-out-of-stagnancy-in-life.html