How to Get Unstuck When You’re in a Plateau

If you’re feeling like a hamster in a wheel running yourself to nowhere, then you’re probably in a plateau.

That’s the awful place where you can’t seem to make progress on your goals no matter what you do. And the most frustrating part is that you think you’re doing everything right but it’s still not working.

Take a breath, Life Editor.

It’s time to stop spinning your wheels and try something dramatically different. You can’t move forward doing the same things that got you stuck in the first place.

Watch this video to learn how to get unstuck when you’re in a plateau.

The video transcript is below for your convenience.

Next Steps

• Take a one action step to get unstuck and bust through your plateau.
• Download the printable time log when you sign up for the free Editor’s Toolkit.
• Subscribe on YouTube.

Video Transcript

We’re on the fast track to nowhere!

Life editing is all sunshine and rainbows at the beginning: you’re setting goals, making progress, and everything feels like it’s finally working out for you.

Until it’s not.

Eventually, you’re going to get stuck and your progress will completely stall. You’re in a plateau and it’s doesn’t feel good anymore.

You’ve got 2 choices: sit around waiting for someone to save you or do something about it.

Don’t give up! Your goals are closer than you think. Let’s go!

Hey there! I’m Sage Grayson, a former book editor turned life coach. I help ambitious career women edit their habits, routines, and mindsets to balance their happiness at work and home.

I’m a Life Editor…and so are you!

Today we’re talking about how to get unstuck.

When we see successful people online or on TV or in magazines, we might think that they have it so easy. That everything fell into their laps like beautifully wrapped presents with a big bow on top.

But in reality, everyone has ups and downs, especially those successful folks. Most successful people actually have more failures in their past simply because they’re more willing to put themselves out there and try new things.

Getting stuck in plateaus where you’re not making progress anymore happens to everyone who has a goal whether you want to lose weight, start a business, clean your house, save money, or improve your relationships.

Even I get stuck. When I started my business, I didn’t get a single sale for the first 6 months. That was one depressing plateau, but I was able to get moving again mainly because I stopped doing all the destructive things that were holding me back.

If you’re feeling helpless because all your hard efforts are leading nowhere, then I’ve got some advice that will help you get back on track.

Here are 3 steps to take get unstuck when you’re in a plateau.

1. Check Your Numbers

Here’s a disturbing truth bomb: you may be sabotaging your success and not even know it!

You might be chugging along thinking you’re on the right path, but if you haven’t checked your numbers in a while you might be in for a rude awakening.

If your goal is to lose weight, spend a week going back to basics and track your calories. I like using the MyFitnessPal app. Also, pull out those measuring cups and kitchen scale. You might think you can “eyeball” a proper serving size, but don’t leave it to chance.

Let’s say your goal is to get your work done either for your job or for your business but you never seem to check everything off your to-do list. Review your numbers by keeping a time log or using a time-tracking app. I have a free printable time log that I’ll link below this video.

When you look at where your minutes are going, you’ll soon see if you’ve been fooling yourself. A 5-minute social media break could actually be an hour-long procrastination session.

Check your numbers so you know the truth.

2. Switch Lanes

Is it time for a change of scenery? Your plateau might be a well worn road you’ve been driving on for too long.

To switch lanes in your life, try something dramatically different than the techniques you’ve been using.

Fitness buffs should try a new exercise: if you’re a runner, try a dance class. If you lift weights, try swimming. You’ll use muscles you never knew you had and challenge your body to adapt, thus, breaking out of your plateau. This is called cross-training.

Entrepreneurs can switch lanes by changing up their marketing tactics. Tired of Facebook ads, then try Instagram ads. Or go totally “old school” by hanging flyers around town or hosting in-person workshops.

Switching lanes shifts you away from what’s not working anymore and hopefully out of your plateau.

3. Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination

I know, I know! You don’t want to hear some sappy advice about how your goals don’t really matter and you should just be happy living your life.

Because your goals DO matter. You wouldn’t have chosen your goals if they didn’t mean something to you. I want you to keep you goals. Self-improvement is the very core of life editing.

But the first step of life editing is to create a gratitude foundation. Being thankful for what you’ve got right where your at is the only thing that will give you the energy to continue, and to break through your plateau.

Focus on the journey, the little daily action steps you’re taking, instead of obsessing about the end goal.

Be of service to your customers every day and love up on them without thinking about how you can get them to pay you.

Have fun preparing and eating your delicious healthy meals instead of being mad about those last 10 pounds you want to lose.

Consider what makes you happy and do those things every day. Odds are, by filling yourself with joy, you’ll naturally move out of your plateau.

That’s it! This week, take one action step to get unstuck and bust through your plateau. Will you check your numbers, switch lanes, or focus on the journey?

If you like this video, please be sure to subscribe. Then come on over to sagegrayson.com and sign up for my free Editor’s Toolkit. You’ll get dozens of printable worksheets, ebooks, and resources to help you on your life editing journey, plus weekly updates and sage advice from me that I only share in email.

Thanks for watching. I’ll see you soon.

Want to Get Unstuck?

If you need help breaking through your plateau, join the Life Editor Clubhouse membership site for several classes specifically designed for getting unstuck.

• Overcome Your Resistance will teach you to ditch your excuses and ignore the voices in your head that want you to be lazy and play small.
• Procrastination Blaster! will teach you what it takes to defeat whatever’s been slowing you down in your life and business.

CLICK HERE to join the Life Editor Clubhouse to watch these classes plus dozens more.

This post focuses on Step 4 of the Life Editing Process, Rearrange Everything Into a Perfect Flow. For more about life editing and what it can do for you, click here.