Seven Tips for Getting Unstuck
In the middle of 2012 I was working on a PhD in Roman History. My research had started on a good foot, but I hit a major roadblock towards the end of the year. I wasn’t able to get permission to view several artifacts that were central to my thesis. The museum that housed several weapon fragments refused to let me examine them. This derailed my research, and forced me to rethink my entire approach.
We usually think of progress as linear. Start at point A, arrive at point B, but life is a lot messier than that. I had assumed that my research would go smoothly, one discovery leading neatly to the next. What I realised was that progress is usually made through a series of starts and stops. What I needed to learn was how to get unstuck.
When we’re in the stop portion of making progress, it often feels like we’re stuck. When I couldn’t get access to the materials that I thought I needed for my research, I felt like I was in a quagmire. I couldn’t move anywhere, and I didn’t see a way out. Eventually, after many talks with my supervisor, I decided to take a different approach to my research. While waiting for a response to my appeal to the museum, I started working through written sources. This new perspective allowed me to expand the breadth of my research and helped me get unstuck.
Whether you’re working on an academic degree, running a business, or just trying to get work done, we all get stuck from time to time. While we’re stuck, it’s easy to assume that we aren’t making progress. Just remember that often, getting stuck is an important part of making progress. If you’re in that stuck portion of progress, here are some tips for getting unstuck.
Take a Break
One of the hardest things to do when you get stuck is to stop spinning your wheels. It often feels like you’re just a few minutes away from making a breakthrough, even when you’ve spent hours working on the problem. My first suggestion is that you take a break and disconnect from your work. Get away from your work environment and take a walk or grab a coffee. If games are your thing, consider playing a game to get your brain into a totally different space. If you haven’t tried it, I’d highly recommend meditation or even just spend some time being bored.
Change Your Approach
When we get stuck, it’s easy to continue trying the same thing over and over again. After all… It’s much harder to reassess what we’re working on and possibly scrap what we’ve done till now. Unfortunately, sometimes the best way forward is to completely change how we approach the problem. We can fall prey to the sunk cost fallacy and continue putting time into a possible solution simply because we don’t want to “lose” the time we’ve put into it. Those who make real progress, however, know that you can’t be afraid to trash everything you’ve done and start over.
Communicate Your Problem and/or Solution
You may believe that you fully understand the problem you’re solving and your solution, but when you’re forced to explain it to someone else, you’ll often find something you’ve missed. A famous quote that’s been attributed to Rick Warren, among many other people, goes: “Thoughts untangle themselves through the lips and fingertips.” The act of explaining something to others forces us to back away from our problem and to confront assumptions we may have made. Find someone to talk to about what you’re stuck with or write up a document explaining the problem and how you’re solving it.
Consult an Expert
Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to talk to an expert in the field. You may find someone who has had to deal with the exact problem you’re facing, and even if they haven’t, they will often help you see the holes in your thinking. This can take many forms, from watching videos online, to reading books and blog posts, or talking one on one.
Solve a Different Problem
One of the best ways to get unstuck is to get your brain working by solving a completely different problem. This can be anything from a puzzle to fixing that leaky faucet. When I get stuck on a problem, I often stop and hand wash dishes. There’s something about engaging in a mindless activity that frees up the higher parts of my brain.
Celebrate the Wins
Just as it’s tempting to see progress as linear, we often fall into the trap of only celebrating when we complete a project. When we find ourselves stuck, it can often help to review what we’ve already accomplished. Rewarding ourselves for past work can give us a sense of accomplishment, as well as reveal any issues with our early assumptions.
Examine Your Plan
Sometimes we get stuck because we haven’t broken up the work properly. In the midst of doing the work, we rarely revisit our plans. This can make it difficult to know when we’re on the wrong track, and so it’s helpful to continually revisit how we’ve planned to work on our project. Are there any pieces of work that are too large to complete in a reasonable timeframe? Do we have clear steps? Completing steps, regardless of complexity, can help us maintain, or regain, momentum.
How do you handle getting stuck? What do you do when your work grinds to a halt? Please feel free to share your tips for getting unstuck in the comments.