Jimmy Crabb

Regardless of whether you are working on a project for work or just for fun, it can be very easy to end up getting “stuck.” And many people end up getting more and more frustrated when they get stuck, as they push so hard that they are unable to get unstuck. A better approach than “pushing” – regardless of whether it is a work project you are stuck on, a creative project, or just something for fun – is to find a way to ease out of the rut. And simply collecting your thoughts is often the best way to ease yourself out of one of these ruts.

It is important that you find the way that works best for you to collect your thoughts, as different methods work well for different people. For instance, if you are working on a project team some people find that brainstorming helps them get out of a rut. If you find that this is the case for you, make sure it is also the case for the others on your project team. If it is, you can sit around and brainstorm together without the pressure of you having to push out of the rut on your own.

Other people find that simply going out for a little walk is the best way for them to collect their thoughts. These people find that they can sort through their ideas and organize their thoughts when they are able to get outside for a bit or simply get away from their desk. By the time these people return to their desk, they have a new perspective and are ready to attack the project again.

And as strange as it might seem, simply not thinking about the problem at all tends to be one of the best ways for people to get themselves out of a rut. Many people find that when they finally stop thinking about a project – forcing themselves to move onto other things – the breakthrough will come!

There is nothing wrong with getting stuck on a project – after all, it happens to everyone; the main thing is not whether you get stuck, but is knowing the best way for you to get unstuck!