5 Things to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life
There’s just something about the long walk through winter. There’s something about the piles of muddied snow, the grey days, and the darkness falling early. It all makes me feel more than just a little bit stuck in life.
What to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life
It doesn’t have to be winter in your world for you to feel stuck in life. There are about a million ways to fall into a pit and find yourself clawing at the walls with no worldly clue of how to climb out.
I know because I’ve been there.
One thing I’ve learned is that the worst thing I can do is decide it’s not worth the fight and stay stuck. The following five ideas uplift me when I’m stuck in a hard season. I hope they are an encouragement to you as well.
1. When you feel stuck in life, put something fun on the calendar.
Knowing there’s something to look forward to boosts morale. It doesn’t have to be a huge event; it simply needs to be something you enjoy.
When winter starts to get me down, Darrell often encourages me to go to the woods on a Saturday afternoon. We plan it a month in advance. A long walk in the woods, a little bit of time lingering by a creek, and even an hour in my car with worship music refreshes me.
Some of us are refreshed by an afternoon at a coffee shop with a good book, a long visit with an old friend, or an evening of shopping in the city. I find that having something enjoyable to anticipate is deeply satisfying and helps lift my head.
2. Get unstuck by spending a few minutes outside.
Even if it’s cold, even if it requires bundling up, time under the open sky is refreshing. Stepping outside opens our eyes to God’s creative work. Even if you only walk around the block, time outside is good for the soul.
Scientific research indicates that time outside is good for the body and the mind. In Japan, they call it taking a “forest bath.” If you’re feeling stuck, get outside. Breathe deeply. Move your body. Look to the sky and take your mind off yourself for just a few minutes. The heavens really do declare the glory of God, and we all need this reminder of his glory from time to time. (Read here for a post about what happens to your body and mind when you get outdoors.)
3. Force yourself to create something.
This might seem frivolous to those who aren’t creative types, but activating the creative part of the brain stimulates energy.
Try painting an inspirational quote on a piece of cardboard so you can hang it on the fridge.
Download a coloring page and get to work with your child or by yourself.
Try a new recipe.
Paint the chair that’s looking weathered.
The sense of accomplishment is uplifting.
For the past eight years, I’ve painted a different room of the house every time February rolls around. My February painting projects are an immediate countenance booster.
4. Encourage a friend when you feel stuck in life.
Proverbs 11:25 reminds us that we are refreshed by refreshing others.
When I’m feeling down, it helps to take my eyes off my circumstances and pray about which of my friends might need a word of encouragement. Sending a text, email, or an actual card in the mail will brighten someone’s day, and it will brighten yours as well.
Feeling stuck in life? Reach out to encourage someone else, and you might find yourself climbing out of the pit. #stuck #refresh #encouragingothers Share on X5. Count your blessings to get unstuck.
In her first book, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp encourages her readers to create a list of reasons to give thanks. She shares her journey of counting 1,000 gifts from God and continuing after reaching her initial goal of 1,000.
Gratitude journals have been a trend since the nineties, and there’s a reason we keep hearing about counting our blessings. Focusing on all that is good is restorative. It magnifies God. When we make God big, we are reminded that he is bigger than even our worst problems.
Whether these words find you soaring high on a surprisingly warm winter day, mucking through the depths of a dark winter valley, or somewhere in between, my prayer is that you will find encouragement to keep pressing forward.
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