Stuckness often occurs in the middle of long-term goals and can lead to a lull in motivation, but breaking goals into smaller sub-goals can help combat this.
Creative breakthroughs often occur when facing challenges, debunking the belief that creativity declines over time.
Deep dives
Understanding Stuckness
Stuckness is a common and universal experience, where people feel trapped in unfulfilling jobs, relationships, or creative endeavors. It can persist for months, years, or even a lifetime. However, most cases of stuckness involve some agency and the potential for action. Research suggests that the majority of people have experienced being stuck in some area of their lives. Stuckness often occurs in the middle of long-term goals and can lead to a lull in motivation. Recognizing the commonality of stuckness and the potential for action are crucial in addressing this challenge.
Navigating Stuckness
When faced with stuckness, it is important to assess whether progress is being made or if there is a stagnation. The middle phase of long-term goals often lacks clear signs of progress, demotivating individuals. Pacing oneself and breaking down goals into smaller sub-goals can help combat the lull in motivation and maintain a sense of progress. By reframing a larger goal into smaller, manageable chunks, one can reduce the perceived enormity of the task and maintain motivation throughout the process.
Overcoming Creative Challenges
Creativity is not a linear process, and creative individuals often experience periods of stagnation or self-doubt. One common misconception is the belief that creativity declines over time. However, research suggests that creative ideas often emerge when faced with difficulty. The creative cliff illusion, where individuals believe their best ideas come early followed by a decline, is debunked. In reality, creative breakthroughs often occur when challenges arise, pushing individuals to think beyond conventional solutions. Embracing the discomfort of creative challenges can lead to innovative and original outcomes.
Knowing When to Persist or Quit
Determining whether to persist or quit in the face of stuckness can be challenging. A key factor is assessing the convergence toward desired goals. As progress slows and the gap between current and desired states widens, quitting may become a viable option. Understanding the costs and benefits of perseverance versus quitting is essential. In some cases, the fear of change or the unknown may hinder progress. Recognizing that feeling stuck is a universal experience and gaining insight from others can help alleviate fear and provide valuable perspectives on how to navigate important decisions.
Everyone gets stuck sometimes: in a creative pursuit that stalls, in a job or a relationship that isn’t working out, or even just at an exercise plateau. NYU psychologist Adam Alter, PhD, author of “Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most,” talks about why getting stuck is such a universal experience, what you can do to get stuck less often, how you know when it’s time to quit versus push ahead, and the practical steps you can take to get past the mental or emotional hurdles that are keeping you stuck.
