These Habits Are Keeping You Stuck (And How to Break Free)

Are you feeling stuck, unmotivated, or unsure what’s next?  You want more for your life, but no matter what you do—it feels like you’re spinning your wheels. I’ve been there.

Maybe you’re craving to go in a new career or business direction, more freedom, purpose, money, or creativity. But instead of making real progress, you stay in the same place. You second-guess your next move.

But that “stuck” feeling? It’s not a dead end. It’s a signal.

A sign to pause—not quit. A sign to reflect, realign, and shift.

Truth is, getting unstuck isn’t always about trying harder. Sometimes, it’s about becoming more aware of the sneaky habits quietly holding you back.

So let’s talk about it—because awareness is the first step to change.

Here are 7 psychology-backed habits that might be keeping you stuck (and how to start breaking free):

1.Negative Self-Talk

Let’s start with a big one—your inner dialogue.

Your inner dialogue shapes your confidence, your choices, and your reality.

When your self-talk is filled with doubt, judgment, or criticism, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You start to believe the inner critic whispering, "You're not ready. You're not good enough." And once you believe it, you play small, avoid risks, and stay stuck.

But I’ve learned this: confidence isn’t about never doubting yourself—it’s about knowing how to reframe those doubts.

🧠 Psychology Insight: Your brain will always look for evidence to support what you believe. Change the belief, and your mind starts looking for new possibilities.

Shift it: Catch the thought. Challenge it. Replace it with truth. Confidence is built, not born.

2. Lack of Prioritization
When everything feels important, nothing gets done. Sound familiar?

Without clarity on your top priorities, you fall into a cycle of unproductive busyness. You do a lot but make little progress. Cue: burnout, overwhelm, and frustration.

📌 Key Sign: If your to-do list is endless and your constantly feeling overwhelmed, but don’t feel like you’re getting closer to your goals.

Shift it: Pick your top 3 priorities each day. Focus on progress, not perfection.  Use a planner or digital planner to map out your day. 

3. Waiting for Things to Be Perfect

This one hits hard. Perfectionism can look like high standards—but can also be fear in disguise.

Waiting until you’re fully ready, fully confident, or conditions are perfect? You’ll be waiting forever.

Shift it: Start messy. Take one small step. Clarity comes from action, not overthinking. The truth? You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to begin.

4. Overcommitment

Raise your hand if you’ve ever said “yes” out of guilt. 🙋‍♀️

Whether it’s people-pleasing, FOMO, or just wanting to help—overcommitting spreads you thin. And when you say yes to everything, you say no to your own goals.

Shift it: Boundaries are your superpower. Protect your time like your future depends on it—because it does. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to say no. Your worth isn’t measured by how much you do for others.

5. Fear of Failure (or Staying in Your Comfort Zone)
Your brain is wired for safety. Which means anytime you reach for more, fear can show up.

🌱 Reminder: Growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone. Fear is just a sign you’re expanding.

Shift it: Ask yourself, "What’s the worst that could happen? And what’s the best that could happen if I tried?"

6. Self-Sabotage

Self-sabotage isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it looks like procrastination, perfectionism, or overcommitting. Other times, it’s doubting yourself right when things are going well.

It can be habits that sneak in quietly—like procrastination, overthinking, or downplaying your own brilliance.

It’s not because you’re lazy—it’s often because your brain is trying to protect you. When things start feeling unfamiliar (even if they’re good), your subconscious wants to keep you safe and comfortable.

So you delay the project. You avoid the opportunity. You convince yourself you’re not ready.

Another common example? Imposter syndrome. You’ve earned your place, but your mind whispers, “What if they find out I don’t belong?”

Shift it: Start noticing the patterns. Track your wins. Keep a “proof” folder of compliments, achievements, or proud moments. The more evidence you gather, the easier it becomes to trust yourself.

7. Comparing Yourself to Others
This one’s a quiet confidence killer.

When you’re constantly measuring your progress against someone else’s timeline, you lose sight of your own path.

Comparison can make you feel like you’re behind, not doing enough, or not being enough. I’ve caught myself scrolling and spiraling—wondering why someone else is farther ahead.

But here’s the truth: their chapter 20 isn’t your chapter 2. And their journey was never meant to be yours.

Shift it: Reflect on how far you’ve come. Celebrate your progress. Put the energy you spend watching others into building the life you actually want. Your only competition is the version of you from yesterday.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Reading this is already a powerful move. But now, it’s time to turn awareness into aligned action.

If you're ready to break free from the habits keeping you stuck and start showing up as the version of you that actually reaches those goals—I've got just the tools to help:

✨ Grab my FREE Life & Mindset Reset Guide — your go-to weekly and monthly check-in system to stay grounded, intentional, and in momentum.

✨ You don’t have to stay stuck. ✨ You just need a new strategy.