Feeling Stuck at Work or in Life? Here’s How to Get Moving Again

Posted on September 04, 2025 by Jonathan Holloran, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

Feeling stuck is frustrating. You’ve tried different strategies, followed advice, maybe even bought into a “proven system,” only to end up back where you started. It’s exhausting.

Here’s the first truth about getting unstuck: there isn’t a magic, one-size-fits-all solution.

Each of us has unique skills, strengths, preferences, and blind spots. Growth is personal, and that is what makes it challenging.

And yes, I am a coach. I’ll say this up front: everything I share here becomes more powerful when you work with a coach. But even if that is not your path right now, my hope is that something here sparks momentum for you.

Step 1: Assess the Issue

When you say you are stuck, what does that actually mean?
- Is it your career? Relationships? Motivation?
- Is it one area or many?
- Which part of your life, if it changed, would make the biggest difference?
Coaching Insight: Most people say, “I feel stuck,” but haven’t defined where or why. Clarity is the first step.
Once you know where you are stuck, the next step is uncovering why you want to move forward.

Step 2: Find Meaning

There is no shortage of people selling hacks, shortcuts, or guaranteed systems. Sometimes they help for a while. But when results fade, people often blame themselves.
They think, “If this worked for everyone else, what is wrong with me?”
Nothing is wrong with you.
It is completely normal to see progress, then slide back. The missing piece is often meaning.
If you want lasting change, you need a deep connection to why you are changing.
Your body and mind will always crave the familiar, even when the familiar is frustration. Meaning gives you the strength to resist old patterns and build new habits.

Step 3: Set a Visionary Goal

You need a purpose that excites you, something that fuels you and maybe even scares you a little. SMART goals are useful for tactical steps, but if you want to change your life, you need something bigger.
Write your goal down. Put it at the top of your calendar or task list so it stays front and center. Every time you ask, “What should I do next?” that goal is waiting as your reminder.
Coaching Insight: Start with the vision, then build SMART goals that serve it.

Step 4: Design a Plan

A solid plan does not need to be perfect. It needs to be flexible and realistic. Here are the essentials:
- A clear destination
- A map of how to get there (expect it to change)
- Milestones to track progress
- Strategies for handling obstacles
- Contingencies for when Plan A fails
- Accountability to stay on track
Coaching Insight: This is where SMART goals can be used to create focus on tactical steps. Plans do not need to be perfect, they need to be adaptive. That is where coaching makes a huge difference.

Step 5: Take Action

Now it is time to move. Even if your dream is big, start small.
- Set goals you can achieve or exceed.
- Use early wins to build momentum.
- Track progress, adjust as needed, and celebrate every step.
- Remember that progress beats perfection.
Coaching Insight: Momentum is emotional. Small wins create confidence, and confidence fuels action.

How Coaching Fits In

A coach helps you see what you cannot see on your own. Sometimes we cannot recognize the box we are living in, but if you feel stuck, you are probably in one. A coach helps you:
- See the box
- Define the issue
- Connect to your meaning
- Set aligned goals
- Build a realistic, life-changing plan
- Stay accountable and supported

A Real Story

I worked with a professional early in their career who felt overwhelmed and unsure if they could keep up in a new role. Their anxiety and frustration were rising as they tried to balance unclear expectations, difficult co-workers, and shifting priorities.
We started by defining the issue. From there, we uncovered their deeper purpose, which included supporting their family, growing their independence, and living by their values. With that meaning in place, they set a bold goal: to grow into a top-level executive, whether at their current company or elsewhere.
Together we built a plan that focused first on communication, since that skill touched nearly every area of concern. Over time, we practiced negotiation, worked through difficult conversations, and built strategies to connect with their manager and colleagues.
Within a year, they went from fearing they might lose their job to earning a significant promotion. They put in a lot of work, and this result is not typical, but the effort they put in and their willingness to keep going after setbacks laid the foundation for long-term success.

Final Thoughts

Feeling stuck is not a failure. It is a signal.
It is your mind and body asking for clarity, change, and support.
If this article helped you take even one step forward, I am glad. And if you are ready to go further, I would love to help.

Let’s talk about what is possible for your career and your life. Take a step by requesting a free consultation.