self-help | mental health

7 Simple Ways to Get Unstuck When Life Feels Heavy

Because sometimes all you need is a tiny push forward

Photo by on Pexels

Not a Medium member? Read the full story here.

We all go through phases where everything feels heavy, unclear, or just off. I’ve been there too and more than once. Whether it’s not knowing the next step in your career, feeling emotionally drained, or simply being too tired to do basic chores, feeling stuck is frustrating.

Here’s what has helped me get moving again. No magic, just small, practical steps:

1. Accept the stuckness.
The first thing that helped was just admitting that I was stuck. Not trying to fix it right away. Not blaming myself for it. Just saying, “Okay, this is where I am.” That honesty made things feel lighter.

2. Do one small thing.
I used to wait to feel “motivated” before doing anything. But action often comes before motivation. One day, I just washed my clothes and put them out to dry. It felt tiny, but it broke the inertia. Start with something small — even if it doesn’t feel important.

3. Clean your space.
When my environment is messy, my brain feels the same. You don’t need a full deep clean, just…