Break Free: 7 Ways to Overcome Feeling Stuck in Your Business
Juggling motherhood and building your dream business is no easy feat. Some days, you feel unstoppable, chasing down goals, taming tiny temper tantrums, and nurturing the family that relies on you. But what happens when the fire that ignited your passion dims? You stare at your to-do list with a sinking heart, wondering if you’ll ever actually get anything done. All those goals you’d broken down into manageable chunks suddenly loom up again, looking far too intimidating to ever truly achieve.
If this sounds familiar, know that you’re in good company. Every single successful person has felt this way countless times. The thing is, we get so used to hearing about other people’s wins and achievements that it’s easy to assume they just had a dream run all the way through. Indeed, success stories are what we seek out when we’re trying to forge our own legacies. But it’s just as important to hear about the messes, the falls, and the failures. These low points are where the real transformation happens – where you get the answers that will help you build the life you want.
The second thing I need you to know upfront is that this feeling of stuckness isn’t a permanent situation. This blog is packed full of field-tested tips you can use to break free from stagnation and reignite your sense of purpose. In fact, by the time you reach the end of the article, you’ll know how to transform these ‘stuck moments’ into valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Let’s get you back to feeling unstoppable, empowered, motivated, and ready to crush your mompreneur goals!
The Early Signs of Stuckness
Every mompreneur hits a wall sometimes. You pour your heart and soul into your business, but the results just aren’t coming as quickly as you’d hoped. Long hours turn into weeks, and that initial spark of passion starts to flicker. This feeling of being stuck is frustrating and demotivating, but remember this: it’s a sign that you are about to reach a breakthrough.
You will not stay stuck like this forever. But you have received a signal that you need to re-evaluate your approach and identify areas for improvement. The trick is to notice the early warning signs so you can take action before you get so frustrated you want to give up. Here’s what you need to watch out for:
Procrastination: You used to jump out of bed excited to tackle your goals. Now, the “snooze” button is tempting you every morning. Tasks are piling up untouched, and you’re no longer excited to cross things off your to-do list.
Overwhelm: Everything feels urgent, but nothing seems to get done. You’re drowning in daily tasks and struggling to see the bigger picture. You might even feel like you’re on the verge of burnout.
Friction at Home: Business stress starts spilling into your personal life. You and your partner argue about neglected responsibilities, and the once-supportive atmosphere feels strained.
Comparison Spirals: Scrolling through social media filled with other people’s highlights and success stories only amplifies your sense of stagnation. You feel like everyone else is moving forward while you’re stuck in the mud.
Disconnection from Purpose: You lose sight of why you started this journey in the first place. Your mission and values just aren’t driving you like they once did, and the fire that fueled your passion feels like it’s fizzled out.
These are just a few signs that you might be feeling stuck. If you recognize any of them in yourself, don’t panic! By identifying your specific warning signs, you can address them before they impact your well-being and business.
How to Get Out of Feeling Stuck
I’ve had many stuck moments, but one that really stands out was when Adam and I were putting tons of work into our business but not yet landing clients. It felt like we were trapped in a time loop, doing the same things day after day but not getting any results. To break free, we first had to acknowledge that we were directing all our energy into the wrong parts of the business. We were making progress, sure, but not on the things that would land us our first clients.
That painful realization still ringing in our ears, we knew our next step was to direct our attention toward the right goals. Here’s what we did in 7 Steps to get ourselves properly aligned:
1. Explore the Feeling of Being Stuck
“The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves.”
Richard Bach
It’s not fun, and it’s not easy, but the best thing you can do is acknowledge the feeling of stuckness and accept that it’s here for a reason. It’s not trying to derail you – it’s here to show you what needs to change if you want to keep moving forward.
Next, dig into the reasons behind it. Once again, not fun. But this is where you’ll find your solutions. The following steps will help you uncover the causes behind your stuckness.
2. Examine Your Self-Talk
Our inner voice plays a huge role in our motivation. So check in with what’s going on in your mind. What are you saying to yourself? What did your parents say to you? What are the societal pressures or norms you feel you have to live up to?
Challenge those thoughts and talk to yourself like you would talk to your kids. Nurture yourself and transform your inner dialogue. If you struggle with this, affirmations might be just what you need. Every time a negative voice pops up, thank it for its input but then let it go, replacing it with an affirmation that’s meaningful to you.
The ones I love are:
- I am worthy
- I am deserving
- I am loved
- I am enough
- I am curious
- I am capable
- I am courageous
- And I am unstoppable
3. Meditate
This tip is short and sweet but immensely powerful: Meditate for at least 10 minutes a day. You can work your way up to this by starting with just 1 minute a day. Stick with this for a week, then increase your time by 1 minute. Work your way up week by week, steadily building the habit.
When you meditate, you teach your mind that it’s okay to sit with whatever’s going on around you and within you. Over time, this gives you a sense of space between triggers and reactions, helping you respond to everything from stressful meetings to toddler tantrums in a more constructive way.
4. Recharge Your Routine
Since we’re already adding in affirmations and meditation, now is the perfect time to give your entire routine a Spring clean. A morning routine that gets your mindset dialed in can fuel your entire day. Meditation, visualization, affirmations, reading, and journaling are all powerfully motivating practices. To fit all this in, I recommend waking up a little earlier each day.
I’ve had incredible success with waking up an hour or two earlier, but remember, we’re moms! There will be days when a 5 am wake-up isn’t realistic. The key is to find a routine that works for you, even if it’s not perfect every day.
5. Revisit Your Vision and Goals
Feeling stuck often means your goals need a refresh. Revisit your vision board, values, and quarterly goals. Legacy Building Mamas podcast episodes #4 and #5 can guide you through this in detail. But for now, ask yourself:
- Are my goals still relevant?
- Are my current activities actually moving me closer to them?
If the answer to either question is no, it’s time to adjust! This might mean setting new goals or changing what you’re doing to achieve your goals. Once you’ve done this, reassess the path you need to take and break it down into small, achievable tasks. The idea here is to ensure no step feels too big or overwhelming. Prioritize these mini-tasks based on impact, and get those small wins rolling.
If you’re still feeling stuck, this could be a sign that you need to level up your skills. For Adam and me, this was most certainly the case. Consider investing in workshops, courses, or training programs to fill knowledge gaps and make informed decisions. I can tell you from experience that if you choose wisely, this can be the most effective way to escape feeling stuck.
6. Seek Mentorship and Community
This is a lesson Adam and I learned the hard way, so I’m here to give you the shortcut out of it: You don’t have to go it alone!
When Adam and I tried to do it all ourselves, we got stuck solid. That’s why having a mentor and a community of like-minded mompreneurs is magic. They’ll be your cheerleaders, brainstorming buddies, and trusted advisors. Crucially, they’ll remind you of your potential every time your confidence wavers.
Online communities and networking events can be goldmines for sharing ideas, collaborating, and building friendships that go the distance. This is why I developed the Legacy Building Mamas Facebook group. This growing community of supportive women is all about empowering moms to build their empires, one step at a time. We’d love to welcome you in! So ditch the idea of struggling through solo and surround yourself with supportive people who can offer guidance and encouragement.
7. Find Your Power By Letting Go
Are you clinging to the “perfect mom/wife/everything” image? This can be a major roadblock. So if you’re feeling stuck, it might be time to disentangle certain tasks from your sense of identity as a mother, wife, and business owner.
Consider outsourcing tasks, both at home and in your business. Whether you hire a cleaner, bring in a babysitter, or outsource your accounting, this step will free up your time and energy, allowing you to focus on high-impact areas.
For me, letting go of household chores was a revelation. I used to cling to the idea of being the perfect everything, but I finally had to accept that this was leading me down a path of burnout and arguments with my partner.
The solution? A shared rebalancing strategy. I developed a tool for assessing the distribution of household responsibilities and then redistributing the load to ensure everyone gets a fair share. This gave me back so much time to invest in the business and podcast. If you’d like to get a snapshot of the mental load you’re working under and claim back some of your valuable time, I’ve made my mental load rebalancing tool available for free. Simply follow the link to get started.
Letting go is scary, but I can tell you from experience that it’s a powerful tool. In fact, I wouldn’t be here – (starting my podcast, building a community, and growing the business, whilst working in my Corporate Job) – if I hadn’t learned to let go.
Final Thoughts
As you work through this stuck feeling, keep reminding yourself that it’s just a bump in the road, not a dead end. With the right mindset, tools, and support system, you can push past these moments and emerge even stronger. The key? Recognize the signs of being stuck and take action. Refer back to this blog as your toolbox – filled with practical strategies to help you break free and keep building your incredible legacy.
“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.”
Mandy Hale