Powerful tips to help break free from feeling stuck

Feeling stuck is a frustrating and often debilitating experience that can leave us feeling lost in our careers, personal lives, or creative endeavours. At some point, most of us encounter this block - the sense that we’re spinning our wheels, unable to move forward. The good news is that feeling stuck doesn’t have to be permanent, and one of the most powerful ways to break free is by focusing on consistent, imperfect action.

What is consistent, imperfect, action?

Many people get caught up in the idea that they need to have everything figured out or be perfect before taking action. We often wait for the 'right moment' but, in reality, that moment never arrives. Instead, progress comes from taking small, regular steps, even if those steps are flawed. This concept, known as consistent, imperfect action, is about doing something - anything - regularly to move towards your goals, even when it’s not perfect.

Think of it like building momentum. A car doesn't go from 0 to 60 in an instant. It accelerates gradually, gaining speed as it continues to move forward. Similarly, taking consistent, imperfect action allows you to gather momentum, push through the stuckness and create progress over time.

Why perfection is the enemy of progress

Perfectionism is one of the main culprits behind feeling stuck. When we believe that everything needs to be flawless before we take action, we often end up paralysed. The fear of making mistakes or not meeting our own (or others') high expectations stops us from moving forward altogether. This can lead to procrastination, frustration, and a deepening sense of stagnation.

One powerful example of this theory comes from James Clear, author of the bestselling book Atomic Habits. He explains that it’s not about making the perfect decision every time but about making decisions consistently. In his book, he references a study conducted by a photography professor, who divided students into two groups: one was graded based on the quantity of photos they took, and the other on the quality of a single perfect photo. Interestingly, the students in the quantity group ended up producing higher-quality photos overall, simply because they took more action and learned through trial and error.

This shows that action - even if imperfect - leads to improvement. Waiting for perfection only results in inaction.

Embrace the learning process

Taking consistent, imperfect action helps you embrace the learning process. You begin to understand that it’s OK to make mistakes along the way, as these mistakes offer valuable lessons. Over time, your actions become more refined, and you build confidence in your ability to move forward. When you approach life with this mindset, you release the pressure to perform perfectly and instead focus on making small steps towards growth.

This is something I’ve experienced personally. When I began my journey of self-discovery, I used to wait until I felt completely ready before taking action. Unsurprisingly, I often stayed stuck for long periods. Once I started embracing imperfect action, I realised that the more I showed up - whether things went smoothly or not - the more I learned and grew. Yes, it was uncomfortable, and it was also hard some days but I moved forward, and it got better, it felt better, I learned faster and I got OK with making mistakes. And the truth is, no one noticed my imperfections, they just saw my constant action.

Real-life examples of imperfect action

The concept of consistent, imperfect action can be applied across all areas of life. Whether you’re trying to launch a business, improve your health, or embark on a creative project, the key is to keep moving forward, no matter how small the steps. Let’s look at some examples:

Business

Many successful entrepreneurs will tell you that they didn’t have it all figured out when they started. For example, Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, didn’t have any formal training in fashion or business. She embraced failure as part of her process, continually taking steps forward and learning along the way. This led to her eventually building a billion-dollar empire.

Health and fitness

When it comes to health goals, many people give up because they think they have to follow a perfect routine. However, experts in fitness often advise that doing something is better than doing nothing. Whether it’s a 10-minute walk instead of an hour at the gym, or choosing a healthy snack when you’re not able to cook a full meal, small, imperfect actions compound over time to yield positive results.

Creative projects

The world’s most famous artists and creators didn’t wait for inspiration to strike before they started creating. They showed up every day, knowing that not every piece would be a masterpiece. The consistent act of doing, failing, and learning ultimately led to breakthrough moments of brilliance.

Keep showing up

The most important thing to remember is to keep showing up, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain. Action begets action. When you take consistent, imperfect steps, you build resilience and prove to yourself that you’re capable of moving forward.

Feeling stuck doesn’t have to be a permanent state. By embracing consistent, imperfect action, you’ll slowly break free from the paralysis of overthinking and procrastination. Progress is built one imperfect step at a time, and each step moves you closer to where you want to be.