We’ve all felt it.
That heavy, dragging sensation. Like your feet are planted in cement, even though your mind is racing with everything you should be doing. You’re stuck in place—frustrated, overwhelmed, and unsure where or how to begin.
Whether it’s a personal goal you keep putting off, a life transition you’re trying to navigate, or just a general sense of burnout, getting unstuck can feel nearly impossible.
But here’s the truth: momentum starts small.
And it starts within you.
You don’t need a full life overhaul to move forward. You need just a few clear, doable steps that break the cycle of spinning your wheels. In this post, we’ll walk through the first three steps that can help you get unstuck—and keep moving.
Why We Get Stuck
Before you can move forward, you have to understand why you’re stuck in the first place.
Being stuck doesn’t always look like inaction. Sometimes it looks like busyness with no progress, chronic overthinking, or even perfectionism in disguise. It’s your body moving through the motions while your mind stands still.
Common causes of feeling stuck:
- Mental clutter and emotional fatigue
- Fear of failure (or success)
- Lack of clarity or direction
- Guilt about putting yourself first
- Overwhelm from trying to do it all at once
As moms especially, we often delay our own goals and dreams because we think now’s not the right time. But what we’re really doing is waiting for life to slow down or for things to magically get easier.
In my book Mom Take Center Stage, I say this plainly: your momentum doesn’t depend on perfect timing—it depends on permission. The permission you give yourself to begin, even imperfectly.
The First 3 Steps to Moving Forward
You don’t need to “figure it all out” right now. What you do need is a way to take that first breath, that first step, that first small win that shows you—it’s possible.
Here’s how to start.
1. Get Clear on What You Want—Not Just What You’re Tolerating
When you feel stuck, it’s easy to focus on what’s not working. You ruminate on what’s wrong, what you’re behind on, or what everyone else seems to be doing better than you.
But the question that creates movement is this:
“What do I want instead?”
It can be small. A sense of peace in the morning. A routine that works. A creative project that lights you up. The desire for clarity, confidence, or connection.
You can’t move forward without knowing what you’re moving toward.
Try this journaling prompt:
“If nothing changes, how will I feel six months from now? What would I rather feel instead?”
Let your answers guide your next step—not someone else’s idea of success.
📝 Related Post: Mental Clutter Is Real—Here’s How to Clear It
2. Shrink the Goal, Don’t Shrink Yourself
One of the biggest reasons we stay stuck is thinking the change has to be massive. If you’re burned out, overwhelmed, or just low on energy, the thought of reinventing your whole life feels impossible—and so you don’t even try.
But you don’t need a big leap. You need a tiny shift.
Instead of this:
“I have to fix everything about my routine.”
Try this:
“What’s one thing I can do differently tomorrow morning?”
Momentum builds not from grand gestures, but from small, repeatable wins. Once you show yourself that change is possible, your brain starts to believe in your own progress.
Start where you are.
Drink a glass of water. Write for five minutes. Say no to one thing. Ask for help. Go to bed earlier tonight.
Small steps are still forward.
📝 Related Post: How to Create a Weekly Reset Routine (That Doesn’t Take All Day)
3. Create Micro-Momentum with the “Next Right Thing”
When your brain is in freeze mode, don’t ask, “How do I fix everything?” Ask instead:
“What’s the next right thing I can do?”
This is how you outsmart overwhelm. You zoom in so close that the step in front of you becomes doable. And then you do just that.
Examples of the next right thing:
- Send one email
- Make one phone call
- Choose your clothes for tomorrow
- Take a 10-minute walk
- Text someone to check in
- Open the notebook. Write one sentence.
It’s less about what you do and more about doing. Because once you take action, however small, you disrupt the pattern of paralysis.
You’re no longer stuck—you’re in motion.
📝 Related Post: Functional Spaces: Tips to Make Your Home Work for Your Life
What Happens After the First Step?
Let’s be honest: taking the first step doesn’t magically solve everything. But it does change something powerful.
You go from stuck → moving.
From circling thoughts → choosing action.
From helpless → capable.
And once you get that first flicker of movement, the next step feels a little easier. Then the next. Then the one after that.
Momentum doesn’t come from waiting for motivation. It comes from starting—and trusting that your energy will follow your action.
In Mom Take Center Stage, I walk you through this process again and again. Not in theory, but in the real-life mess of motherhood, identity, and rediscovering yourself. Because as moms, we’re constantly putting ourselves on pause. But the truth is, you don’t have to wait to begin again.
You don’t need to get your whole life together.
You just need to take the next step forward.
You’re Meant to Move, Not Stay Stuck
You were never meant to stay in one place forever. Growth is your natural state—even when it’s messy, slow, or nonlinear.
The question isn’t, “Can I do it?”
The question is, “Will I give myself permission to begin?”
If this resonates with you—if you’re craving clarity, confidence, and momentum that feels sustainable (not soul-sucking)—then I invite you to go deeper with me in my book.
Mom Take Center Stage
A guide for moms ready to move forward with courage, clarity, and confidence.
I wrote this book for the mom who’s tired of waiting for the “right time” and ready to come back to herself. It’s real, relatable, and filled with tools to help you move from stuck to shining—in motherhood and in life.
👉 Join the Waitlist Here to get early access, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes bonuses.
Because you deserve more than just surviving. You deserve momentum that feels like yours.
💬 Let’s Talk:
What’s one area where you’ve felt stuck lately?
Which of these three steps feels most doable for you today?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you.
Artist/Photographer credit: https://unsplash.com/@brookecagle
